ACA on job hunt in India for out of contract Australian cricketers

Australian cricket appears to be at their extreme vulnerability with the ongoing pay dispute between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA). The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) negotiations between both the associations had started in November last year, with the players’ body demanding the inclusion of digital revenue in their new pay package. The impasse resulted in the Australian cricketers boycotting an ‘A’ team tour to South Africa earlier this month. And, unless things take a positive turn, Australia’s forthcoming tours to Bangladesh and India can also be in danger.

However, the deadline to strike a deal between both the parties passed on June 30 and now an approximate 230 Australian cricketers have been left unemployed. Following this, ACA sent its Commercial Manager, Tim Cruickshank, to explore opportunities for the players on a sabbatical, in India. Australian cricket would be teetering on the edge unless a truce is reached in the ongoing pay war in the next three months.

Describing his purpose of visit, Cruickshank was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz, “The main reason for my trip is to have a few meetings, because as of July 1, when the players came off contract, the majority of the Australian cricketers have signed their intellectual property over to the ACA, and that’s been managed by the cricketer’s brand wing of ACA. So, that creates obviously a number of commercial opportunities for the ACA and for the players. And obviously, they’re currently unemployed. So, we’re going to have a look at the additional revenue streams that can come to the ACA and the players.

India v Australia in October

Australia is scheduled to play India in October. However, it depends on the priority of the board to maintain its political relationship with the BCCI. Also, a monumental number of tickets have already been sold out for the Ashes which starts at the Gabba on November 23. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for both the governing bodies to call a truce and come up with a legit solution before the Ashes start.