Australian players could split more than $3m by winning T20 women’s World Cup

Australian players have been given three million big reasons to add another World Cup trophy to their bulging cabinet next month after prize money for the T20 tournament was doubled to nearly $12m

The winners will share in $3.4m, more than double the $1.5m awarded for winning in 2023, Australia’s their third straight T20 World Cup triumph.

It brings the tournament in alignment with the men’s competition. India received $3.6m earlier this year for winning the men’s T20 World Cup.

“This move is in line with the ICC’s strategy to prioritise the women’s game and accelerate its growth by 2032,” the ICC said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Teams will now receive equal prize money for the equivalent finishing position at comparable events as well as the same amount for winning a match at those events.

“The men’s T20 World Cup 2024 event prize money is only higher on account of 10 additional teams participating and 32 more matches played.”

Even the losing finalists will walk away with $1.7m, which is more than the Australians received for their 2023 victory when Meg Lanning lifted the trophy.

The women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October 3-20, was moved to the United Arab Emirates from Bangladesh, which has been rocked by political turmoil and violence in recent months.

Gunning for a fourth consecutive title, Australia will open its T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Sharjah.