This 13th edition of International Cricket Council (ICC) will see Pakistan play its matches in Sri Lanka due to India’s earlier decision not to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, leading to a “hybrid model” for the event.

The tournament unveiled a significant increase in prize money for the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka starting September 30.

The total prize pool for the tournament has skyrocketed to $13.88 million, marking a remarkable 297% increase from the $3.5 million awarded at the last edition held in New Zealand in 2022. This total surpasses the $10 million prize money for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup two years ago in India.

In a statement, the ICC emphasized that this announcement is part of its strategy to promote the growth of women’s cricket, coinciding with the decision to introduce pay parity ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. The winners of this year’s tournament will receive $4.48 million, a 239% increase from the $1.32 million awarded to Australia in 2022.

The runners-up will earn $2.24 million, a 273% increase compared to the $600,000 England received in 2022. The two losing semi-finalists will each take home $1.12 million, up from $300,000. Each team participating in the group stage is guaranteed $250,000, with victorious teams earning $34,314 for each win.

Teams finishing in fifth and sixth place will receive $700,000 each, while those in seventh and eighth will earn $280,000.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailed the announcement as a significant milestone in the journey of women’s cricket. “This four-fold increase in prize money is a landmark moment and reflects our commitment to the long-term growth of the women’s game,” he stated.

Shah expressed confidence that this initiative would inspire the next generation of players and fans, calling on all stakeholders to support and champion women’s cricket.