Reaffirming the players’ stance on the ongoing pay dispute between Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers’ Association, Australia captain Steve Smith has made it clear that the players will tour Bangladesh later this month only if a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is struck before the start of the series.
While admitting he would like to play the series in Bangladesh, Smith said the players would not give up on their demand.
“I’d like to [play], but as we’ve said for a long time we need to get the deal done first,” Smith told Fox Sports on Tuesday (August 1).
Last month, the Australian players had boycotted the ‘A’ tour of South Africa and Smith said it would be unfair to them if the national team goes to Bangladesh without a new pay deal on the table.
“I don’t think it would be fair for us to go away after the (Australia) A guys were very strong on not going away on their tour, for us to then go away I don’t think that’s fair,” he said.
“CA knows this, they’ve been told this. I told (CA’s Executive General Manager Team Performance) Pat Howard personally that this was how things were going to be if there wasn’t a deal done,” he added.
Smith further said it has not been for him to act as a negotiator. The 28-year-old has to remain very careful while supporting the players but at the same ensuring a healthy relationship with the board and the management.
“It’s had some difficult moments,” Smith said. “When this is all over with, I have to deal with Pat Howard, I have to deal with the (CA) Board and speak to James Sutherland so I have to be careful with what sort of lines I read. Some guys have been really vocal on social media and I think the way for me to lead in this dispute is to be able to talk to guys behind the scenes that are at the table and doing the job.
“Talking to the two parties and trying to figure out what each of them wants and the best way forward. I’ve been talking to Alistair (Nicholson, ACA Chief Executive) and Pat Howard on the phone most days so it’s been a long process and hopefully it comes to a close soon,” he added.