Cricket pay war: Players‘ resolve to be tested ahead of Bangladesh tour

THERE are fears that August’s tour of Bangladesh could become a pawn in cricket’s pay dispute as players pledge to continue their fight.

Australia’s players don’t plan on backing down now. AFP Photo

THERE are escalating fears that August’s Test tour of Bangladesh could become a pawn in cricket’s bitter pay war as players pledge to double down in their fight to remain partners in the game.

Catastrophe is looming large amid mounting speculation that Cricket Australia will look to try and push the players’ resolve to breaking point.

The response from players indicates they too are ready to fight fire with fire with a push to reject stopgap measures like tour contracts if they are offered and a feeling state players on multi-year deals could even consider their legal options if compelled to honour their contracts in a lockout.

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Australia’s players don’t plan on backing down now. AFP Photo

At this stage CA is sticking to its original threat of unemployment for players come July 1 when the current Memorandum of Understanding expires with many stakeholders believing the governing body may try and “starve out” the players.

But even if that stance was softened in the three weeks before deadline, players have pledged to continue to play hardball.

In cricket and other sports there have been past examples of the Memorandum of Understanding being rolled over for another 12 months to allow more time for negotiating, but The Daily Telegraph understands players would flatly refuse this notion if it was offered.

Any offers of temporary tour contracts to enable international commitments to be honoured are also looking increasingly likely to be rejected by the playing group, at the very least if they don’t see progress at the negotiating table beforehand.

Less than two weeks after the MOU expires on July 1, Australia A will tour South Africa — with Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell and Kurtis Patterson seemingly the only three players in that squad whose contracts are set to expire, therefore potentially locking them out of action.

The rest of the party, including big names like Travis Head and Jackson Bird are on multi-year state deals and could be compelled to tour even in the event of a lockout.

However, such is the level of chaos that could potentially explode if no resolution is found, there’s still a possibility state players, if pushed and if willing, could try and challenge the legality of their multi-year contracts based on an absence of the MOU upon which they were signed.

If the level of disruption to the Australia A squad is to be minimal with the majority to tour despite the drama, then the scheduled Test series against Bangladesh a month later shapes as the real showdown.

Without an MOU and if temporary tour contracts can’t be agreed upon, none of Australia’s international Test stars will be in Bangladesh.

Glenn Maxwell could be among those forced out. AFP Photo

The Australian Cricketers Association have a support fund ready to go for players in the event of unemployment, and if salaries still aren’t being paid in October, players will be due for an injection from the adjustment ledger which is a lump-sum payment owed to them for their contribution over the past five years.

Further revelations of the crisis engulfing Channel Ten, broadcasters of the Big Bash League, has not wavered players’ commitment to the revenue share model.

Even in the prospect that Ten would not be able to bid on the new BBL TV rights deal anticipated to triple to a worth of $100 million, the players say they want to share in the game no matter whether it’s a boom or a downturn.

“It further emphasises how the revenue share model is relevant with uncertain financial times in the game,” an ACA spokesman said on Tuesday.

A rolling over of the MOU has happened in the past, but with an Ashes on the horizon, new broadcast deals set to be negotiated, players will not bend over and wait another year to get the deal they want.

Both Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association accuse the other side of refusing to take part in good faith negotiating.