ACA confirm no resolution reached over pay dispute

The Australian cricketers pay dispute has continued to haunt the cricketing fraternity with Australian Cricketers Association confirming that no new developments have been made to resolve the issue.

Cricket Australia had suggested the removal of a clause that ensured the Austrailian players receive a fixed amount of share of CA's revenue, citing that the share could be used to fund cricket at the grass-root level and terming it tailor made for modern times. However,  the Australian cricketers did not find the offer attractive and straightaway disagreed the changes, in spite of being offered higher paying contracts. The ACA then tried to negotiate a resolution by suggesting a reduction in the share of revenue from 25% to 22.5% but CA rejected the offer. 

Following the deadlock, more than 200 male and female cricketers' contracts were terminated on June 30th and they denied signing new contracts until the issue was resolved which resulted in Australia A boycotting the tour of South Africa. Since then, it has been revealed that negotiations towards a solution had speeded up, but the ACA confirmed that no solid results have yet been obtained.

“The ACA confirms that agreement has not been reached for a new MoU,” the union said in a statement, reported Hindustan Times. However, ACA CEO Alistair Nicholson has called for the urgent settlement of the issue.

Nicholson further revealed that the recent communication between the two committee's has been positive boosting the hopes of reaching a resolution in the dispute.

“The increased involvement of CA CEO James Sutherland has been pleasing,” Nicholson said. “A better understanding has been established on both parties’ positions,” he added.

The senior Australian team is scheduled to play two Tests in Bangladesh in August, before touring India for an ODI series in October followed by Ashes on their home turf. But more importantly, the participation of the team depends on the signing of a new of Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the cricketers union and Cricket Australia that is according to the terms and conditions agreed to by both parties.