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Equal pay unrealistic – Dippenaar

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Boeta Dippenaar

Former Proteas batsman Boeta Dippenaar received heavy criticism for saying that female cricketers cannot be paid an equal salary to men because they don’t bring in the same revenue. 

After acting CEO Thabang Moroe told Sport24 that female cricketers deserve equal pay to their male counterparts, Rapport asked Dippenaar to give his thoughts on the statement.

Moroe told Sport24 that ‘the changes in the financial model are not aimed at taking away from players’.

‘The financial model is actually aimed at getting together the few bits and pieces that will help CSA cater for the semi-professional cricketers as well as the Protea ladies.

‘It’s high time that CSA puts its money where its mouth is. We’ve been saying that we want to look after our women cricketers and get them to a place where they are treated the same as the men’s professional cricketers.

‘We want them to be paid the same.’

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Dippenaar responded in an article published on 27 May, saying that Moroe’s ideals are unrealistic.

‘You must adjust the income in proportion. You cannot pay a drawcard that brings in millions of rands for CSA the same as women players who are not the same kind of attraction,’ said Dippenaar.

‘Women’s cricket does not have the same commercial value as men’s cricket. Yes, our women’s cricket has improved a lot, but you can not compare it to the men.

‘I say with respect: you can not compare Dane van Niekerk with an AB de Villiers or a Faf du Plessis.

‘The men also play a lot more often. The men are often away from home and they have many responsibilities. If women are to be paid the same as men, they must have the same responsibilities.’

Dippenaar was slammed on Twitter by Proteas Women cricketers for his comments.

Proteas Women skipper Van Niekerk dug into Dippenaar for his point of view, but the Tweets have since been deleted.

Photo: Hamish Blair/Getty Images