Women's cricket doesn't earn BCCI revenue: Smriti Mandhana

The male cricketers in the top bracket on BCCI central contracts list are entitled to an annual remuneration of Rs 7 crore, while a female cricketer in the highest category gets Rs 50 lakh for the same period.

Hyderabad: Star Indian woman cricketer Smriti Mandhana doesn't want to focus on pay cheque given by BCCI. She doesn't even want to think about the money her male counterparts receive from the board. The fact is that the female cricketers get much lower than Indian male cricketers. When asked about this discrimination Mandhana said that women cricketers should not complain because "revenue which we get is through men's cricket".

"We need to understand that the revenue which we get is through men's cricket. The day women's cricket starts getting revenue, I will be the first person to say that we need the same thing. But right now, we can't say that," she told reporters.

The male cricketers in the top bracket on BCCI central contracts list are entitled to an annual remuneration of Rs 7 crore, while a female cricketer in the highest category gets Rs 50 lakh for the same period.

'Don't think any of the teammates is thinking about this (payment) gap'

"I don't think any of the teammates is thinking about this gap because the only focus right now is to win matches for India, get the crowd coming in, get the revenue. That is the thing which we are aiming for and if that happens all other things are going to fall in place," she said.

Indian women's cricket team

"And for that, we need to perform. It is unfair on our part to say that we need same pay, it is not right. So I don''t think I want to comment on that gap," she added.

India will play a tri-series before the World T20 begins in Australia and Mandhana feels that the tournament is important to finalise the team composition right for the big event next month.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Virat Kohli share pleasantries while Smriti Mandhana looks on.

"Most of them (the players) have played in Australia, so I think with India A touring Australia last month, that is also going to be a big help (as) four-five players were part of that team as well.

"But the tri-series is going to be a really important tournament, thinking about the team composition," Mandhana said.

Mandhana said the team has been planning for the World T20 in the last one year.

"...it is quite exciting. Looking forward to playing this World Cup with this team as it is new team with mixture of experienced and new players," she said.