'Brilliant step'- Wasim Jaffer praises BCCI's decision to roll out equal pay for women's team

The Indian national women’s cricket team were presented with a late Diwali gift after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced equal pay for the women's team in the country on Thursday. The decision was made public by the re-elected BCCI secretary Jay Shah via his Twitter account. Former Indian opening batter Wasim Jaffer lauded the BCCI's latest initiative.

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer applauded the decision of the BCCI and feels the cricketers must be well paid in modern times with a scarcity of jobs. Jaffer reckoned that the move would help cricketers who belong to rural areas and come from economically weaker sections of the population.

"I think this is a brilliant step, you know women's cricketers will also be paid on the same level as the men's team. It is important to be financially well off since several players come from rural areas and economically weaker sections. It is a good step by the BCCI as they needed to uplift women's cricket in the country," said Jaffer while speaking on 'BatBricks7 presents Run Ki Runneeti' on CricTracker. 

Women's cricket has improved massively in the last couple of years: Wasim Jaffer

The ex-cricketer also highlighted the improvements in women's cricket over the last couple of years. He felt that the move will encourage the younger generation to take up the sport in the country, which bodes well for the women's game. Jaffer stated that the women's team has improved considerably in the past few years and plays more frequently these days. 

"The Men's team plays a lot of cricket, but the same can be said about our women's team as well, who are seen in action frequently these days. They are inspiring the younger generation to take up the sport, which is very good and means that women's cricket in India is going in the right direction. They have improved massively in the last couple of years," he added.

It is worth noting that the women's team recently clinched their record seventh Asia Cup title by beating Sri Lanka in the final earlier this month.