Mumbai Cricket Association Introduces Equal Pay Retainers for Men and Women Players

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has instituted equal pay retainers for its men’s and women’s squads for the 2026-2027 season, becoming the first state cricket governing body in India to establish matching annual contract values across both divisions.

What Happened

Following the announcement of a framework in April 2026, the MCA finalised contracts covering 22 domestic cricketers, consisting of 14 men and eight women. The retainers are structured into three distinct tiers: Grade A offers an annual sum of INR 12 lakh, Grade B provides INR 8 lakh, and Grade C is valued at INR 6 lakh. The association applies identical remuneration figures to both male and female players across all three tiers.

Among male cricketers, Siddhesh Lad and Shams Mulani secured Grade A retainers. Grade B contracts were allocated to Mohit Avasthi, Hardik Tamore, and Akash Anand. Grade C retainers were granted to Sairaj Patil, Himanshu Singh, and five other cricketers. In the women’s division, Grade A retainers went to Humaira Kazi and Vrushali Bhagat. Sanika Chalke was named in Grade B, while Fatima Jaffer and four other players secured Grade C contracts.

Key Highlights

• The MCA is the first Indian state association to award annual retainers to both men and women players.
• Retainer values remain identical across genders: INR 12 lakh for Grade A, INR 8 lakh for Grade B, and INR 6 lakh for Grade C.
• A total of 22 players are contracted for the 2026-2027 season, comprising 14 male and eight female cricketers.
• Beyond base retainers, players receive match fees, daily allowances, and performance incentives throughout the domestic calendar.
• The scheme focuses on supporting athletes who lack central contracts from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or are outside its targeted group.

Why This Matters

The contract initiative represents a major structural milestone for domestic women’s cricket in Mumbai, ensuring identical baseline retainer compensation for state-level female cricketers. Historically, progress on equal pay across Indian cricket has developed gradually. While former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly highlighted equal pay as a priority around 2019, state-level implementation had remained limited.

The move also complements previous MCA compensation changes, including a 100 per cent pay increase for the senior men’s team in the 2024-25 season and the establishment of a scholarship fund honouring Ajinkya Rahane after his 2026 retirement, funded with backing from former MCA president Sharad Pawar.

What to Watch Next

Contracted players across both contingents will receive match fees, allowances, and performance-linked incentives as domestic competitions unfold across the 2026-2027 season.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many players are covered under the MCA retainer contracts?

A total of 22 players are contracted for the 2026-2027 season, including 14 male cricketers and eight female cricketers.

What are the pay grades under the MCA contract system?

The retainers are divided into three identical tiers for men and women: Grade A offers INR 12 lakh, Grade B provides INR 8 lakh, and Grade C pays INR 6 lakh.

Who qualifies for these state-level contracts?

The initiative provides financial retainers to domestic players who do not hold central contracts from the BCCI and are outside the national board’s targeted group.

Source: Information reported by Crictracker.