Bangladesh Women’s Team Guaranteed $250,000 for World Cup Participation
Record-Breaking Prize Money in Women’s Cricket
The Bangladesh women’s team will receive US$ 250,000 (approximately Tk 3.20 crore) simply for participating in the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tournament has already began on September 30, with Bangladesh opening their campaign against Pakistan in Colombo on today.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the overall prize pool for this edition is US$ 13.88 million (Tk 168.15 crore), a monumental 297 percent increase from the US$ 3.5 million on offer at the last edition held in New Zealand in 2022. This unprecedented rise not only signals a new era for women’s cricket globally but also ensures that all participating teams, including Bangladesh, receive guaranteed financial rewards.
More Than the Men
The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup has already made headlines with its historic prize pot, which surpasses even the US$ 10 million distributed at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India in 2023. The winners of this edition will take home US$ 4.48 million, a significant jump from the US$ 1.32 million awarded to Australia in 2022. The runners-up will receive US$ 2.24 million, while the two losing semi-finalists will pocket US$ 1.12 million each.
For the Bangladesh women’s team, simply participating secures US$ 250,000, while every group-stage victory adds an additional US$ 34,314 (Tk 41.56 lakh). This structure not only ensures fair compensation but also incentivizes teams to push harder for wins.
Bangladesh’s Campaign Kicks Off Against Pakistan
Bangladesh will begin their World Cup journey against familiar rivals Pakistan. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty believes starting the tournament with a strong performance could set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
“It will be a good opportunity for the team to get a good start, because it’s the opener of the tournament for us,” Joty said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday. So, a win will set up a good tone for the whole tournament, and it will give us more confidence to play well in the rest of the games.”
This will be Bangladesh’s first international outing since April, when they competed in the World Cup Qualifiers. Facing Pakistan gives them hope, given their history of closely fought matches.
“For us it is a good thing to play against Pakistan because we have played against each other on many occasions. We faced them in the qualifiers, and we played bilateral series as well. So, it could be a good contest,” the skipper added.
Targeting Wins Against Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Head coach Sarwar Imran has already outlined Bangladesh’s strategy, targeting at least two wins in the group stage—against Pakistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka.
However, for that to materialize, significant improvements are needed in the batting department. Bowling and fielding have consistently been Bangladesh’s strengths, but the lack of big runs has often held them back in crucial moments.
Joty admitted that batting had long been a concern, but she insisted the team had worked hard to address the issue.
“For a long period of time, I think batting was our main concern because our bowlers have been spot on in each and every game. Fielders are also doing very well. But the thing is, we couldn’t capitalise on it as a batting unit,” she explained.
“Then we discussed that we do have the potential. So, why are we not able to give our 100 percent in the game? Or why are we settling down and not going for a big score? So, we’ve worked very hard as a batting unit, and we actually promised ourselves that this is it.”
Keeping Plans Simple, Focusing on Execution
Joty emphasized the importance of sticking to a straightforward game plan rather than overcomplicating strategies.
“I guess we just wanted to keep our game plan simple, because a particular day is very important. And we just wanted to play according to our plans and keep it more simple with what we can do right now,” she said.
“The thing which is important is tomorrow is a very important day, and each and every one, including the team, wants to get a good win tomorrow to set the tone for the tournament. So, we just wanted to make fewer mistakes tomorrow, and hopefully we’ll get a good match.”
Building on 2022 Debut
Bangladesh made their Women’s ODI World Cup debut in 2022 and earned their first-ever victory in the competition against Pakistan. That result remains a source of belief and motivation for the side. Joty and her teammates are determined not to repeat the struggles of qualification they endured previously.
“This is a good opportunity for us to see what we have been prepared for and how we qualified last time. It was really hectic. So, we don’t want to go through that part again. And if we want to do well and if we want to win games, we have to put some runs on the board,” Joty noted.
Financial Security, Competitive Challenge
Even if Bangladesh fails to win a single match, the guaranteed US$ 250,000 prize provides significant financial stability and recognition for their efforts. However, every victory in the group stage could substantially add to their tally, further rewarding their progress.
The financial angle makes this tournament particularly important for the Bangladesh women’s team, as the earnings will support the squad’s development while showcasing the ICC’s commitment to achieving pay parity and growing the women’s game globally.
Looking Ahead
With a tough schedule ahead—including matches against reigning champions Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, and co-host India—Bangladesh knows the challenge won’t be easy. Yet, the combination of guaranteed financial reward and the potential to earn more with each victory offers both motivation and security.
As captain Joty summed it up: “Tomorrow is a very important day. Each and every one in the team wants to get a good win to set the tone for the tournament.”
