In a significant legal development, Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his estranged wife, Dhanashree Verma, have been granted a waiver from the mandatory six-month cooling-off period for their divorce. The Bombay High Court has directed the family court to finalize their divorce proceedings by March 20, ahead of Chahal’s participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

Court overturns family court’s decision

Initially, a family court had refused to waive the statutory cooling-off period under Section 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act, citing partial compliance with financial obligations agreed upon in the consent terms between the couple. However, the Bombay High Court bench led by Justice Madhav Jamdar ruled in favor of the waiver, considering the couple’s prolonged separation since June 2022.

Financial settlement and compliance issues

The cricketer had agreed to pay a permanent alimony of Rs 4.75 crore to Verma. However, he had only made a partial payment of Rs 2.37 crore so far, leading to the family court’s initial rejection of the waiver. Despite this, the Bombay High Court acknowledged their extended separation and directed compliance with the consent terms, paving the way for a swift divorce settlement.

Impact of IPL commitments

Given Chahal’s commitment to Punjab Kings for IPL 2025, starting on March 22, the High Court emphasized the urgency of resolving the matter before the tournament. The family court has been instructed to decide on the divorce plea by March 20.

The couple, who tied the knot in December 2020, filed for divorce in February 2024. With this legal development, their separation is set to be legally finalized before the cricket season kicks off.

The much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) is creating waves even before the match, as fans struggled to secure tickets for the game scheduled on March 23 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Ticket sales for the high-voltage match began online on Wednesday at 10:15 AM, but many fans were left empty-handed as seats vanished within minutes. Social media was soon flooded with complaints, with many questioning the transparency of the process.

Fans express anger over ticket booking system

Several users vented their frustration on X (formerly Twitter), sharing their experiences with the ticketing system.

A disappointed fan wrote, “I logged in exactly at 10:15 AM, and I was already in queue at 87,600. How does that even work when transactions must be completed within 10 minutes? 🤣”

Another user dismissed the process as a farce, warning others, “Don’t waste your time, folks! This online sale is just for show.”

Scalping allegations also surfaced, with one fan alleging, “People who won’t even attend the match are hoarding tickets just to resell for profit. This needs to stop! #TicketScam #CSKvsMI”

Frustration also extended towards CSK’s management. A fan criticized, “Worst franchise ever. If sponsors get all the tickets, what’s the point of being a fan? #Scam #IPL2025.”

Adding to the discontent, another user pointed out the vast gap between demand and supply, stating, “Chepauk Stadium has 38,000 seats, but 1,70,000 people were in the queue. When will they fix this mess?”

CSK vs MI ticket prices

For those who did manage to secure a ticket, the price breakdown was as follows:

• Rs 1,700 – Tower C/D/E (Lower)
• Rs 2,500 – Tower I/J/K (Upper)
• Rs 3,500 – Tower C/D/E (Upper)
• Rs 4,000 – Tower I/J/K (Lower)
• Rs 7,500 – Tower KMK (Terrace)

IPL 2025 set to kick off on March 22

The IPL 2025 season will commence on March 22, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.

CSK vs MI head-to-head record

In their 37 previous encounters, MI has had the upper hand, winning 20 matches, while CSK has claimed 17 victories. With CSK looking to even the record, fans are hoping to witness an electrifying contest—if they can manage to get a ticket!

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced domestic contracts for 90 women cricketers for the 2024-25 season, increasing the number of contracted players from 79 last season. However, despite the rise in contracts, the financial compensation for players remains alarmingly low.

Low retainers and match fees spark concerns

The newly announced contracts include 10 capped national players, 62 emerging players, and 18 Under-19 players. However, the retainers for these cricketers stand at just PKR 35,000 (approximately USD 125) per month—below Pakistan’s minimum wage for unskilled laborers (PKR 37,000). Additionally, the match fee for domestic games remains at PKR 20,000 (USD 71), with players reportedly not receiving daily allowances this season.

While PCB claims that these contracts aim to “expand the talent pool” and “inspire young players,” financial constraints continue to push players away from the domestic circuit within a short span.

Limited earning potential for domestic cricketers

Despite the increase in contracts, the earning opportunities for Pakistan’s women cricketers remain minimal. The maximum amount a fully active domestic player can earn in a season—including match fees and retainers—is PKR 1,040,000 (USD 3,700). However, players who do not make the playing XI earn only PKR 10,000 (USD 35) per match.

With cricket-related expenses, including personal trainers and diet management, estimated at PKR 600,000 annually, many players struggle to afford essential facilities for their professional development. As one player stated, “Living in Pakistan, not everyone can afford a professional athlete life… I spend PKR 400,000 on my cricket, but I can’t afford a personal trainer.”

PCB’s spending on women’s cricket raises questions

Under the current administration, PCB had announced an increase in investment for women’s cricket from PKR 70 million to PKR 240 million. However, this investment has not translated into significant improvements in earnings or infrastructure for women’s cricket.

Comparisons with other cricket boards highlight the disparity. Cricket Australia, which earns only slightly more from the International Cricket Council (ICC) than PCB, ensures that domestic players earn an average of USD 96,000 annually. Even New Zealand Cricket, which earns less from ICC revenue than PCB, offers better salaries, with the lowest-paid domestic player making USD 11,000—nearly three times more than the highest-earning Pakistani domestic cricketer.

In India, even the lowest-paid player in the Women’s Premier League earns INR 10 lakh (USD 11,500) for a three-week tournament, while top players can earn up to INR 2 crore (USD 230,500).

Gender pay gap in PCB’s structure

While women’s cricket remains underfunded, male domestic cricketers in Pakistan earn significantly higher wages. A player featuring in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match receives PKR 200,000 (USD 715) per game. A “Grade A” contracted male domestic cricketer earns PKR 550,000 (USD 2,000) per month, while even the lowest-tier male contract offers PKR 250,000 (USD 890) per month.

Revised figures shared on social media suggest that PCB’s expenditure on match fees for senior and Under-19 men’s cricketers alone stands at USD 390,361—far exceeding the entire budget for women’s cricket (USD 250,060) from the previous season.