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In a landmark move for women’s cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a record-breaking prize pool for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, and legendary Indian fast bowler Jhulan Goswami‘s reaction perfectly captured the sentiment of the cricketing world.
A historic leap: The record-shattering prize pool
The upcoming 13th edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup will feature a staggering overall prize pool of $13.88 million USD, a figure that represents a near four-fold increase from the $3.5 million offered in the previous edition in New Zealand in 2022.This monumental sum also surpasses the $10 million USD prize pool for the Men’s ODI World Cup held in India in 2023, making it the highest prize purse ever for an ICC 50-over event.
The distribution of this prize money is equally impressive, with significant increases at every level of the tournament. The champions will receive a cash prize of $4.48 million USD, a monumental 239% increase from the $1.32 million awarded to Australia in 2022. The runners-up will be rewarded with $2.24 million USD, a 273% rise from the $600,000 England earned three years ago. The two losing semifinalists will each take home a substantial $1.12 million USD, up from $300,000 in the last edition. Furthermore, every participating team is guaranteed to receive $250,000 USD, with an additional $34,314 USD awarded for each group-stage victory, ensuring that all teams are financially rewarded for their efforts.
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Jhulan Goswami on motivation and growth
Goswami, an icon of the women’s game, praised the ICC’s forward-thinking approach, stating that the move will have a profound impact on the future of women’s cricket. In a video posted on the ICC’s official Instagram account on Monday, she expressed her sheer delight, stating she was ‘getting goosebumps’ over the historic announcement. The overwhelming increase in prize money signals a new era of investment and recognition for the sport, a development Goswami believes will provide an immense boost for players, both on and off the field.
“I am getting goosebumps. This is a very good thing. I would definitely like to thank ICC from my side. The way they have thought of this, I think, definitely, women’s cricket will get a lot of boost in this. It will be a boost for the young budding cricketers. It will be a boost for their parents as well, as they can see who can play sports professionally, and it can take them forward. So, I think great news for women’s cricket, and I think this will definitely motivate all the players,”
This unprecedented increase in prize money is not an isolated event but rather a key component of the ICC’s broader strategy to accelerate the growth of women’s cricket. It follows the global governing body’s recent decision to introduce pay parity ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, a move that ensured equal prize money for men’s and women’s events. The Women’s ODI World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to commence with the opening game between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30. This landmark financial commitment showcased the ICC’s clear intention to deliver a world-class event and inspire the next generation of players and fans.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
