Karnataka extends Rs 15,000 monthly pension to women cricketers, brings parity with men

BENGALURU: In a long-pending move, Karnataka State Cricket Association will hand out Rs 15,000 every month to all eligible former women cricketers on par with their male counterparts.To be eligible, the players must have represented Karnataka in the senior women's national championship and must be at least 55 years old as of April 1, 2026. Those already receiving a pension under BCCI scheme are not eligible.While several state associations — including Gujarat, Vidarbha, Bengal, Baroda and Rajasthan — already offer pensions to women cricketers not covered under the BCCI scheme, Karnataka had so far extended such benefits only to the male players.In a communication on Wednesday, KSCA outlined the eligibility criteria and application process. Association secretary Santosh Menon told TOI the initiative was part of a broader commitment. "Inclusivity was one of our key talking points during the elections. This is one of the steps towards honouring our commitment to women cricketers," he said.Menon said the association is setting up a committee to oversee the implementation. "We have invited applications because records of women's cricket, especially from times before the merger of the men and women's associations, may not be fully complete. Even if a player has featured in a single senior national match, she will be eligible," he explained.While the disbursement process may take a couple of months to begin, Menon confirmed that arrears will be paid from April. The move was widely welcomed within the cricketing community.Former India wicketkeeper and KSCA managing committee member Kalpana Venkatachar termed it a long-overdue step. "Women cricketers have been asking for this for over a decade. It's not just about the financial support, but also about inclusivity and the pride of having represented the state. This is a form of recognition," she said.Who makes the cut