Bumper prize money for World Cup but chaos reigns off field

Chance to capitalise on huge recent growth has been hit by late changes to fixture list and delayed ticket sales

- Raf Nicholson

The last time England's head coach, Charlotte Edwards, flew to India for a 50-over World Cup, during her playing days in 2013, she packed a suitcase full of ketchup.

It was a different world: the teams flew economy, no side had professional contracts and there was no team dietitian to raise an eyebrow at Edwards's condiment of choice.

The 2025 World Cup, which begins today in Guwahati and concludes with the final on 2 November, might as well be taking place on a different planet. The dizzying changes in women's cricket over the past 12 years are perhaps best summed up by the growth in tournament prize money.

In 2013, it totalled $200,000; this time, it amounts to $13.88m.

The eagle-eyed will spot this is more than the $10m total prize pot for the most recent 50-over men's World Cup - a big statement by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as to the value of the women's game.

Cricket World Cups in India are always a big event. This one, coming in the wake of the 2023 launch of the successful India Women's Premier League, should be an opportunity to demonstrate just how far we have come since Edwards's last foray. Note the word "should". The powers that be appear to be doing their best to squander that opportunity.