Same Game, Same Pay: Mumbai Cricket Association Breaks New Ground In Indian Cricket

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has become the first state cricket association to award annual retainers to both its men's and women's players on an equal-pay basis.

The initiative will see 22 players - 14 men and eight women - receive annual contracts for the 2026-27 season, aimed at providing financial support to domestic cricketers who are not centrally contracted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or part of its targeted group.

The retainers are identical across the three grades, with Grade A players receiving INR 12 lakh, Grade B players INR 8 lakh and Grade C players INR 6 lakh, regardless of gender.

Mumbai Cricket Association introduces equal retainers for men and women

The new system represents a significant step for domestic cricket, where players can otherwise face considerable fluctuations in income between seasons.

Among the men's players, Siddhesh Lad and spin-bowling allrounder Shams Mulani have been placed in Grade A. Fast bowler Mohit Avasthi and wicketkeepers Akash Anand and Hardik Tamore are in Grade B, while eight others, including allrounders Sairaj Patil and Himanshu Singh, have received Grade C contracts.

For the women's team, Humaira Kazi and Vrushali Bhagat are in Grade A, while Sanika Chalke is the sole Grade B player. Five others, including left-arm seamer Fatima Jaffer, have been placed in Grade C.

In addition to their retainers, players will receive match fees, daily allowances and performance-based incentives.

First state board to introduce equal pay

The MCA's move makes it the first state governing body to provide annual retainers to men's and women's players at identical rates.

The development comes more than seven years after former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly identified equal pay as one of his priorities after taking charge of the board.

While the BCCI introduced equal match fees for India's men and women at the international level in 2022, the MCA initiative extends the principle to annual retainers within domestic cricket.

MCA continues to invest in domestic cricket

The equal-pay contracts are part of a wider push by the MCA to strengthen the financial structure around its domestic players.

In the 2024-25 season, the association incentivised its senior men's team with a 100% increase in pay, effectively doubling the amount players could earn during a domestic season.

The latest move comes amid a broader debate around the financial sustainability of domestic cricket. The BCCI has also introduced additional incentives for centrally contracted men's players who prioritise Test cricket, with match fees potentially increasing substantially for players featuring in more than 75% of Tests during a season.

Ajinkya Rahane scholarship fund announced

The MCA has also established a scholarship fund in honour of former India and Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane following his retirement earlier this year.

The association said the fund, which has received a contribution from former MCA president Sharad Pawar, will support grassroots cricketers and recognise Rahane's contribution to Mumbai and Indian cricket.

Together with its increased player payments and new equal-pay contract structure, the initiatives mark a broader attempt by the MCA to provide greater financial security and a more sustainable pathway for domestic cricketers.