England Women’s Player Partnership Launched On the eve of the ICC Women’s World Cup, the Professional Cricketers’ Association has today announced the launch of the England Women’s Player Partnership (EWPP).
The England Women’s Player Partnership has been set-up to promote and protect the best interests of the England Women’s cricket team, both with their employment contracts and commercial rights. The news comes as England Women enter the World Cup as a professional team for the first time since becoming full time contracted players in 2014. Heather Knight will lead the hosts against India in the opening World Cup fixture at Derby tomorrow (Saturday 24th June) fresh from this announcement in Women’s Sport Week.
Since the England Women’s squad turned professional just over three years ago, the Kia Super League launched to give players the platform to play at the highest domestic level and is on the verge of its second campaign when the competition begins on Thursday 10th August with the Southern Vipers aiming to retain their title Ahead of the World Cup which concludes with a Lord’s finale on Sunday 23rd July, the 18 contracted England Women’s players have signed the EWPP and all other players that play for the England Women’s Team during a contracted year (1st February – 31st January) will become members of EWPP.
The PCA is appointed to administer EWPP and its role is to manage the players’ collective rights, with its primary function to represent the England Women players’ in contractual negotiations with the ECB and to operate the players’ collective commercial programme and financial distributions. The partnership works closely with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to develop the England Women’s team both on and off the field.
The EWPP management committee is made up of the current England captain (currently Heather Knight), the PCA Chief Executive (currently David Leatherdale) and an independent trustee (former England Women’s cricketer Isa Guha).
England Captain Heather Knight said: “On the back of the women’s game going professional in 2014 it’s great to have the England Women’s Player Partnership in place and being managed by the PCA. They’ve been brilliant in developing the partnership and it’s important for us to have them supporting us.
“Hopefully we can secure a win on Saturday to start the World Cup and round off a brilliant Women’s Sport Week after the EWPP has officially been set-up.”
PCA Chief Executive David Leatherdale said “The England Women’s Player Partnership is set up to replicate the Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) which acts on behalf of England’s male international cricketers.
“The women’s game in this country has progressed massively over the last three years after turning professional and now this partnership gives the PCA the opportunity to look after the commercial rights of the women and to work on their behalf with their central contracts with the ECB.
“The PCA are now effectively their point of contact for these matters and while there is still a lot to do, it’s a massive step to give the women credibility and the recognition they deserve.”
Clare Connor, Director of England Women’s Cricket said: “This agreement between our players and the PCA is about more than establishing a partnership and a way of working. It represents another significant step forward for the women’s game in terms of its professionalism and the recognition of our women’s team. ” ECB and PCA have developed a strong and meaningful relationship around the England Women’s team which places our players firmly at the centre of it.”
