India, Sept. 1 -- The International Cricket Council has made a statement on the women's ODI World Cup starting this month end by announcing on Monday that the winners will be awarded a higher cash prize ($4.48mn - approx. Rs. 39.41 crore) than what the 2023 men's champions Australia took home ($4mn - approx. Rs.35.19 crore). The total prize pot for the eight-team tournament to be played in India and Sri Lanka has also been raised, to $13.88mn (approx. Rs.122 crore) from the $10 million (approx. Rs.88mn) for 2023 men's event.

The move signals a fundamental shift in the effort to promote women's cricket, going far beyond symbolic markers. The 2017 ODI World Cup was seen as a turning point merely by virtue of the final being played at Lord'...