David Warner firm in his demands amid fears of unemployment

Australia vice-captain David Warner has made it clear that the cricketers will not bow down to the board in the pay conflict between the two bodies. There is a possibility that Australia’s tour of India in the month of October will be the beginning of the huge controversy.

The left-handed opener also stated that the players would not change their demands and settle with the board. June 30 is scheduled to be the bottom line for a new agreement between the Cricketers and Cricket Australia, which is lurking on the cards.

“Well from July 1, we’re unemployed,” Warner told Channel Nine late Sunday. “We’ve been threatened with that. We’re hopeful there’s going to be an agreement done, it’s a sticky situation.”

Cricket Australia has already warned the cricketers of stripping them off their payments after their financial contracts ends if they do not agree to a new deal. The governing body is also bent on scrapping revenue after 20 years.

With a squad for a tour of Bangladesh in August already announced, David Warner hinted that a boycott is also a possibility. “From our point of view I want to play for Australia and so do the other boys,” he said.

“But if there’s nothing that’s put in place for what we’re trying to achieve here, from both point of views, we’re not going to tour Bangladesh, there might not be an Ashes if we don’t have an MOU.”

With the shadow of doubts over the Bangaldesh tour, the home Ashes series and the chances of cancellation of the ODI series against India in October, Australian cricket could suffer their biggest loss till date.

The 30 year old said that Steve Smith could take a little bit more time when it comes to putting forward the player’s case. Steve Smith has not been as loud as David Warner and has tried to liquefy the chances of industrial action.

“From where I stand and the position I take on this, I try to take as much heat off (Smith) as possible,” Warner said. “He does lead us on the field, and rightfully so off the field as well, he does a great job. In this circumstance I’m willing to go out there into bat for everyone. Yeah, sometimes he could probably push a little bit more, but I think he’s doing a great job, as well as the other players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood as well.”

Both Cricket Australia and the Player’s Union expects to hit a new MOU before the June 30 deadline with the pay talks set to continue this week.