Gender Inequality in ICAI? ICAI Cricket Event Draws Criticism Over Prize Inequality

A cricket tournament organized by the Thane Branch of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is facing online criticism due to the difference in prize money for men’s and women’s team even though both teams paid the same amount of registration fee.

This tournament will take place on 31 May 2025 at TMC Turfpark near Dhaval Hills in Thane (W). Every team has to pay Rs. 3000 including GST as entry fee. But the prizes are not same for both the teams, Rs. 8000 will be given to men’s winning team, and the runner will get Rs. 5000. Whereas for the women’s team the winning prize is Rs. 5000 only and runner up will get Rs. 3,500.

This discrimination between men’s and women’s prize made many people angry. One social media user pointed out this unfairness and asked why the prize money is not same for both the teams when the entry fees are the same. Many people agreed to this point and joined the discussion.

Some suggested that the reason could be lesser women taking part in the tournament which could result in smaller prize pool. And even some people suggested that women’s team should pay more to get more prize money.

This discussion soon turned into many negative comments about women’s cricket and “woke” ideas.

Some even said that such topics should not be discussed in a professional setting like ICAI.

When men & women are paying the same ₹3000 registration fee, why is the prize money unequal?
Men: ₹8000/₹5000
Women: ₹5000/₹3500
Why this difference? If we’re paying the same, shouldn’t the rewards be the same too? pic.twitter.com/eTGvuyN5Ad

— CA Shweta Jain Patil (@Anuana10) May 20, 2025

ICAI has faced such criticism before also. Even last year, during a student conference in Kolkata, women were asked to go back and leave front rows because a religious guest denied speaking if women were seated near the stage. This incident to a strong reaction and an internal investigation by ICAI.

In other games which takes place in thane like chess, pickleball and table tennis by ICAI, both men and women gets same prizes and pays the same fees. No mention of gender differences is seen in those events.

No official reply has given by ICAI thane yet. It is believed by many that strict rules should be made on equality and fairness in any game. And especially professional spaces where everyone deserves the same respect.