ACA unhappy with CA's threat to players over remuneration contracts

The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) is unhappy with the way the Cricket Australia is dealing with the remuneration policies of the players. Alistair Nicholson, the Chief Executive of the ACA, is disappointed after the CA recently threatened the players to accept the newly proposed remuneration strategies. James Sutherland, the Chief Executive of the CA, had noted that if the players do not accept the new policies, their contracts will not be renewed.

They indirectly threatened the Australian Cricketers’ Association to agree to the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to avoid such a precarious situation for the players. Sutherland was clear is quoting that unless they do so, they will not get the contracts for the next season.

“CA is not contemplating alternative contracting arrangements to pay players beyond 30 June if their contracts have expired. In the absence of the ACA negotiating a new MOU, players with contracts expiring in 2016-17 will not have contracts for 2017-18,” James Sutherland had quoted.

Speaking about the same, Alistair Nicholson expressed his disappointment over the entire issue. He noted that there is no cooperation shown from the CA’s end when it comes to the new MoU. The aggression and incoherence is a troubling factor as of now.

“Clearly, we are disappointed that CA are threatening the players. It’s also a window into the nature of CA’s behaviour in these negotiations so far. There is incoherence and aggression in what we have experienced at the negotiating table from CA,” he quoted.

No clouds over CT 2017 participation

While there have been speculations about the Australian players boycotting the national tours, there is no cloud over their participation in the upcoming edition of the Champions Trophy. The CT 2017 falls under the previous season’s MoU and hence will have no impact on it.

“This has further been demonstrated this week with some top players being offered multi-year deals one day only to now be threatened the next. However, despite these threats, the players affirm their offer to participate in independent mediation. Quite simply, one side entered these negotiations in good faith with an intent to provide a win-win result, and the other is trying to remove player unity and drive a wedge in Australian cricket,” he quoted.

Players hinting a boycott

The players, however, have hinted that they will boycott the next season if fairer shares of revenues are not given to the players. The next season includes the all important Ashes as well. Aussie speedster Mitchell Starc had recently hinted at the same when he tweeted about the Ashes.

“Makes for an interesting men’s and women’s ashes … #fairshare,” Starc had tweeted.