CA 'disappointed', calls for 'flexibility' after Australia A decides to boycott South Africa tour

The ongoing pay dispute between CA and the ACA has taken a turn for the worse, with the Australian cricketers deciding to boycott the South Africa tour. CA said that it is disappointed with the decision by Australia A players made, and has called for flexibility in their next negotiations.

Since neither party could come to a resolution regarding the pay deal before the deadline of June 30, a boycott was almost inevitable from the Australians. The likes of Usman Khawaja and Glenn Maxwell were part of the Australia A squad which was scheduled to fly out to South Africa on Friday, July 7. However, the imminent tour to the Rainbow Nation has come to an abrupt end.

While players were training ahead of the South Africa tour, officials broke the news that the series will be boycotted on Thursday morning. Consequently, the management will hold a set of meetings to discuss what lies further ahead.

CA expresses its disappointment

CA expressed its disappointment at ACA’s stance in a statement which read, “CA has never and would never attempt to compel any player to represent Australia at any level if they were unwilling to do so. Australia A gives players an opportunity to perform and gain experience at a high level against quality international opposition. CA has today advised Cricket South Africa of the players’ decision.”

“The Australia A tour was projected to cost CA in the vicinity of $250,000 to stage,” it further read. “All funds that can be recouped as a result of not touring will be allocated by CA to the National Communities Facilities Fund. Australia A squad members with multi-year state and BBL contracts will continue to have these honoured,” the statement further read.

“Cricket Australia regrets that players have made this decision despite progress made in talks between CA and the ACA in meetings over the past week,” the statement read.

“These talks included regular communication between CEOs. While a new MOU has not yet been agreed, CA is of the view that these talks should have enabled the tour to proceed as planned,””CA will continue to work towards a new MOU which is in the interests of both the players and the game and calls upon the ACA to show the flexibility clearly now needed to achieve that outcome,” it stated

James Sutherland, CA chief executive, and his ACA counterpart Alistair Nicholson have been forced to address the issue at hand in recent days. The ACA in response issued a statement: “This decision is made in support of more than 200 male and female players who are now unemployed, and is consistent with Sunday’s ACA Executive meeting resolutions.”

The ACA also said it was with “great frustration” that the tour had to be cancelled and repeatedly asked the CA to look into the worsening situation. “CA refuse to attend mediation or offer any genuine flexibility in the MOU negotiations. And without mediation it’s hard to see how there can be the progress necessary to reach agreement.”

With the possibilities of a fresh pay deal looking bleak, Australia’s upcoming Test tour of Bangladesh, which starts in August, is likely to be called off as well. Cricket Australia will face further issues if it cannot send a team to India for the proposed ODI series in October, in which case the damages will be huge.