India batter Punam Raut and all-rounder Anjua Patil reckoned BCCI’s Thursday announcement of equal pay for centrally contracted men and women cricketers is a sure shot boost for women cricket. Now, at par with India’s men cricketers, women cricketers will earn match fees of Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI and Rs 3 lakh per T20I.

Raut, 33, who has represented the country in four Tests, 73 ODIs and 35 T20Is, revealed that women cricketers were eagerly awaiting this development. “It’s very good news. We have been eagerly waiting for it since a long time—to get the same treatment—as men cricketers. We are no less than men. If you see the performances and achievements women cricketers attain, we deserved it,” Raut told mid-day on Thursday.