The equal pay will apply across both 'Rookie' and 'Senior Pro' levels, marking a significant step forward for gender parity in professional cricket. The newly introduced Rookie level will offer players their first professional contract, while the Senior Pro level will cater to more experienced players already established in their teams. The ECB's Professional Game Committee (PGC) - including representatives from First-Class Counties (FCCs), the Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), and the ECB - has approved the salary structure, setting the foundation for pay parity. Director of the Women's Professional Game, Beth Barrett-Wild, hailed the decision as "a positive step forward for women's cricket in England and Wales." She emphasized the importance of ensuring that players are fairly compensated, positioning cricket as not just a viable, but also an attractive career path for women. The restructuring efforts, which include aligning the men's and women's white-ball competitions from next season, aim to create a more sustainable and competitive women's game. "The changes we've made to the structure of women's domestic cricket across the last nine months have been about producing a sustainable and viable product that's attractive off the pitch, as well as being quality on it," Barrett-Wild added. Alongside salary equality, the eight FCCs with tier-one status in the revamped domestic women's structure will have a minimum of 15 contracted players, with a salary cap of £800,000 per year. In addition, each FCC will be required to invest at least £500,000 in player salaries by 2025. The Oval is set to host the inaugural T20 Blast Women's Finals Day on July 27 next year, and the first One Day Cup Women's Final will take place at the Utilita Bowl on September 21. These major events are expected to further boost the visibility and appeal of women's domestic cricket