Women’s T20 World Cup prize pool set at record $8.8 million

LONDON: This year’s Women’s T20 World Cup will carry a record total prize pool of $8.8 million, with the champions set to receive $2.3 million, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.

The 12-team tournament is scheduled to be held in England and Wales from June 12. New Zealand will enter the event as defending champions after winning the title in 2024.

According to the ICC statement, the runners-up will earn $1.17 million, while the two losing semi-finalists will each receive $675,000. The governing body also said that every team taking part in the competition is guaranteed a minimum payment of $248,000.

The latest prize fund marks the highest for a Women’s T20 World Cup. However, it remains lower than the prize pools offered at recent men’s and women’s World Cups staged in the Indian subcontinent over the past three years.

Comparison with recent ICC events

Last year’s 50-over Women’s World Cup, hosted in India and Sri Lanka, had a total prize pool of $13.9 million, which was the biggest purse for any ICC event. That amount represented a 297% increase from the previous edition in 2022. India, who won that tournament, received $4.5 million.

The men’s 50-over World Cup held in India in 2023 had a total prize pot of $10 million. Meanwhile, this year’s men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka offered $11.25 million in prize money.

The ICC linked the increase in women’s cricket funding to the sport’s broader development and visibility. “The continued rise of women’s cricket through increased investment and opportunity reflects the growing influence and impact of female athletes on the global stage,” ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta said.

The announcement underlines the ICC’s continued expansion of financial rewards in the women’s game, with the upcoming tournament now set to offer the largest prize pool in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

The event will feature 12 teams and begin on June 12 in England and Wales, where New Zealand will attempt to retain the title they secured last year. The ICC statement outlined the distribution for the top finishers as well as the minimum guaranteed amount for all participating sides.

While the total remains below the prize money allocated for some recent global ICC tournaments, the governing body’s latest announcement sets a new benchmark for the Women’s T20 World Cup itself.