Women cricketers seek one-time benefit from BCCI

India's women cricketers have appealed for a one-time payment from the BCCI, inline with the board's recent gesture where former Test and first-class male cricketers benefitted from an approximately Rs 70 crore ($13 million) giveaway. Current and former women cricketers said that the benefits should be extended towards them too. Women's cricket has been under the BCCI umbrella since 2006.

"The BCCI runs women cricket now, and it should honour and reward the former women cricketers in whatever way it can," India captain Mithali Raj told Hindustan Times. "There was, after all, hardly any money in women's cricket till sometime back, so any such move will certainly be a big help to many."

India's women's cricketer of the year and fast bowler Jhulan Goswami agreed. "The BCCI has changed the face of women's cricket in the last few years," she said. "I am sure they will look into it and reward former women players too, sooner rather than later."

Former India player Sandhya Agarwal said that although the women cricketers have benefitted from BCCI's pension scheme, a one-time benefit should be considered as women cricketers have enriched the sport just as the male cricketers.

Recently, former India cricketer Diana Edulji had raised the issue with IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla and the BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale and a decision on the issue is awaited.

"It is good that the board is helping the former players and it would be great if they include women cricketers also in the benefit scheme," Edulji said. "In fact, it is great that the widows of the former players are also part of it. It is a small amount for the board and a big boon for us women players."