FICA Backs Australia in Pay Dispute With Cricket Australia

Sydney (July 4, 2017): The Federation of International Cricketers’ Association backed the Australian Cricketers’ Association and its players for their ongoing pay dispute with Cricket Australia.

At least 230 professional cricketers have been rendered unemployed, as a result of an ugly breakdown to negotiate a new pay deal by the two parties before June 30, 2017, with the seniors team’s tours to Bangladesh and the Ashes in jeopardy. The Australian cricketers have also threatened to boycott Australian A team’s upcoming tour of South Africa unless the pay stand-off between the two parties is resolved.

“FICA is concerned with CA’s desire to end the percentage revenue sharing model that has so successfully underpinned the partnership between the players and administrators in Australia for twenty years. The model has not only been hugely successful for Australian cricket but has been a model of best practice adopted by associations in cricket and other sports, worldwide,” the release said.

“FICA is also seriously concerned with CA’s approach to its dealings with the ACA throughout this ongoing process. FICA commends the ACA and the Australian players for their unity and resolve and for their consistent attempts to negotiate with CA in a professional and transparent manner, including their willingness to use independent mediation to reach a resolution,” the release added.

With talks of players taking part in overseas T20 tournaments making the rounds, Australia’s team performance manager, Pat Howard, issued a letter to all Australian cricketers, warning them that they could face a six-month ban if they partake in “disapproved cricket”.

The FICA, however, observed that if the Australian board restricts players from looking out for other paid opportunities, it could lead to a “legal challenge”

“FICA notes the indications given by CA that it may attempt to restrict now un-contracted players from competing in other cricket events by refusing to grant them a No Objection Certificate (NOC) or threatening them with future playing bans.

“FICA reiterates its strong opposition to any artificial restrictions that unfairly attempt to prevent players from earning a living and that have not been agreed with players or their representatives. FICA believes that such restrictions would be open to legal challenge in most jurisdictions as a restraint of trade.”

Graeme Smith, FICA’s Independent Board member, noted that as the previous revenue-sharing model proved to be a successful partnership between the two parties, there wasn’t any need to tweak the Memorandum of Understanding.

“I was part of a revenue share partnership model for many years as a player and this was a critical factor in fostering the relationship between Board and players. In the current cricket environment where players have other options, I don’t understand why a board would want to change a partnership that has proved to be successful.”

Vikram Solanki, the President of the Association, also extended his support to ACA and the players. “The players are the game. History has shown that where country boards work in genuine partnership with players and their representatives the game thrives and succeeds.

“Cricket is at a crucial moment in its history, with new and competing markets for players, fans and broadcasters. I believe that boards should be working more collaboratively with players in the current cricket landscape, not pushing them away,” he added.

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