Prize money increased, but men still get more than double

The winners of this year's women's ODI World Cup will take home less than half what the champions of the men's tournament did three years ago, although the total money on offer has increased by 75 per cent on the last women's event in 2017.

The International Cricket Council on Tuesday confirmed the prize money for the upcoming event in New Zealand, and the winner of the eight-team event will be awarded US$1.32 million (A$1.85m).

The total prize pool for the tournament is US$3.5m, which is up from the $2m at the 2017 event but still $6.5m less than the $10m prize pool for the most recent men's tournament, in 2019.

At that event in the United Kingdom, England won US$4m – more than the total money on offer at the upcoming women's tournament – after being declared champions following a boundary countback in the final at Lord's.

Kane Williamson's New Zealand earned $2m for making the final of that event, while Australia and India took home $800,000 each as semi-finalists.

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Prize money for 2019 men's ODI World Cup v 2022 women's ODI World Cup

Total: Men's: $10m | Women's $3.5m

Champions: Men's: $4m | Women's: $1.32m

Runner's up: Men's: $2m | Women's: $600,000

Semi-finalists: Men's: $800,000 | Women's: $300,000

(all amounts in USD)

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In contrast, the runners-up at the upcoming women's tournament will walk away with $600,000 (a sum that is $270,000 more than India won after losing the 2017 final to England) while the losing semi-finalists will receive $300,000 each.

Teams that do not advance from the group stage will be awarded $70,000, while very group stage win will earn a team an additional $25,000.

The prize money on offer for ICC women's events has increased significantly across the past decade; when Australia won the 2013 event in India, the entire pool was just US$200,000.

However, an enormous gulf remains between the men's and women's tournaments.

The ICC and the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) agreed on tournament prize pools when the current eight-year event and commercial cycle started in 2015.

The international governing body has previously stated a long-term aim of achieving parity with men's tournaments by 2031, the end of its next commercial and events cycle.

Following the women's T20 World Cup in 2020, the ICC confirmed it was considering separating the broadcast and commercial rights for women's events from the men's, to encourage standalone investment in the women's game.

"Accelerating the growth of women's cricket is one of the ICC's strategic priorities for the next decade," an ICC spokesperson said.

"We have created a great sense of momentum around the game thanks to increased investment over the last five years.

"In addition to televising all games, delivering global marketing campaigns and investing in the ICC Women's Championship which provides regular competition with context, this has included prize money increases at every ICC women's event since 2013."

Cricket Australia addressed the disparity in prize money at the 2020 T20 World Cup, pledging to top up the Australian women's team's winnings to match the men's event.

That translated to CA chipping in an extra US$600,000 (A$885,000) when Meg Lanning's team claimed the title in front of 86,174 people at the MCG.

This time, the difference would be US$2.68m (A$3.75m) if CA followed suit for Australia – who go into the ODI World Cup as favourites – were to prevail, a far more significant sum, particularly in the current COVID-19 climate.

All Australian players receive the same base pay rate, regardless of gender, under the current Memorandum of Understanding agreed with the Australian Cricketers' Association in 2017.

That MoU saw payments for elite female cricketers increase from $7.5m over the previous five-year period to $55 million over the term of the current collective bargaining agreement, which is in place until 2023.

Equal prize money has been on offer for the men's and women's Big Bash tournaments since the 2017-18 season.

Women's ODI World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Australia's ODI World Cup 2022 fixtures

Mar 5: v England, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 12pm AEDT

Mar 8: v Pakistan, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12pm AEDT

Mar 13: v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 15: v West Indies, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 19: v India, Eden Park, Auckland, 12pm AEDT

Mar 22: v South Africa, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 25: v Bangladesh, Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Basin Reserve, Wellington, 8am AEDT

Mar 31: Hagley Park Christchurch, 12pm AEDT

Final

Apr 3: Hagley Park Christchurch, 11am AEDT

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports