NEW DELHI: A top ICC official has urged cricket bodies around the world to follow Australia`s lead and dramatically raise wages for women`s players to stop them dropping out of the sport.

Clare Connor, the former England captain who now heads the International Cricket Council women`s committee, told AFP that other countries must match Australia`s eight-fold increase in wages.

`We are all going to think very seriously of how well our players are remunerated,` she said in a phone interview.

`Because if we don`t look after them they will go and choose other sports or other professions and that will be a tragedy.

The women`s World Cup this year won by England was hailed as a breakthrough for the women`s game, with full stadiums and high TV ratings around the globe.

But many top players have said there has to be follow-up from the cricket hierarchy to acknowledge what is a growth area for the sport.

Connor said higher pay was a key area for women`s cricket as it moves mainstream and generates increasing commercial opportunities.

Cricket Australia`s new pay deal ensured a windfall for its women players, whose total payments have increased from $7.5 million to $55.2 million.

India`s cricket board, the world`s richest, has also promised a salary increase for women players, but no detailshavebeenannounced.

`Obviously the men get in significant commercial revenues to the game,` Connor said. `We are just starting out on our journey, hence there is a lot of discrepancy or difference how players are paid in various corners of the globe,` she added.

Tony Irish, chief executive of the international players` association, also told The Guardian that the women`s game is at risk from matchfixers, who often prey on players on low pay.

`They [Australia] are certainly setting the bar very high and this is a key issue for lots of countries. It is amazing that international women can earn that sort of money,` Connor said.

`[India] have got a team that has captured the imagination and they have obviously got huge number of girls that could be attracted to the game as a result,` she added.-AFP