Player payments confirmed for inaugural WCSL

The ECB has confirmed that payments will be on offer for all players taking part in this year’s inaugural Women’s Cricket Super League, but the set match fee will only be paid to those who make the starting XI.

It means that whilst expenses will be covered, an England qualified or 'home' squad member could earn nothing over the duration of the tournament if they are not picked to play in a match.

Quick Single: Harris would 'jump' at coaching role

Overseas players will all be paid an overall 'participation fee' for the duration of the event. They will then receive the same standardised match fee as all other players, regardless of status or experience. 

When the new six-team Twenty20 competition was announced in June last year it was suggested that each host would have the option of determining whether they would pay their players and how much.

However, Clare Connor, Director of England Women’s Cricket at the ECB, has told cricket.com.au that a uniform system was seen as the best way forward.

"For year one of the competition, given the role that ECB is playing alongside the hosts in player allocation, we decided that standardised participation fees and match fees was the most sensible start-point from a fairness perspective," Connor said.

Quick Single: Dhoni leads captains of crash

"We would envisage this changing as the competition evolves and as the competition starts to attract commercial interest."

Players are being assigned to teams centrally by the ECB for the first season of the WCSL in order to spread the best players across the competition. England contracted players have already been told confidentially which teams they will be playing for, with remaining slots, including the overseas places, yet to be finalised.

Cricket Australia paid Women’s Big Bash League players tiered payments of between $3000 and $10,000 for the duration of their inaugural seven-week tournament, but in line with the way ECB England Contracts are kept private, the ECB will not be disclosing the value of their player payments.

Quick Single: Maxwell looking to deliver on big stage

A number of Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars players are expected to take part in the tournament.

All players will have their accommodation and travel expenses covered, with teams given ring-fenced funding to ensure all costs are met.

The WCSL will run from July 30 to August 14, with a Finals Day on Sunday, August 21 at Chelmsford.

Team names were confirmed last week as Yorkshire Diamonds, Lancashire Thunder, Surrey Stars, Western Storm, Southern Vipers and Loughborough Lightning.