In a major breakthrough for Australia Cricket, the chief executive of Cricket Australia (CA) James Sutherland and top brass of Australia Cricketers’ Association Alistair Nicholson in a joint press conference revealed the two parties have resolved the long-standing impasse while signing on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“Change is never easy but sometimes it’s necessary. As custodian of the game,” revealed Sutherland while accepting the fact of strained relationship between the two factions, as he was quoted by Channel Nine.
The fresh five-year deal was agreed owing to the mutual understanding of both the parties, as a staggering amount of $500 million is on an offer as a payment pool for players which has grabbed the headlines of newspapers in Australia after warring parties were at loggerheads over the past ten months.
“CA [Cricket Australia] is responsible to seek change wherever it’s needed, rather than just putting issues into the too hard basket,” Sutherland added.
On the other side, working for the benefit of the players, Nicholson revealed the management would work hard together for the betterment of gentleman’s game and the time will decide the same over the issue.
“I think that will take some time, but that’s something we’ll now work through together for the good of the game,” Nicholson remarked.
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Interestingly, after agreeing to the deal, Australia is bound to tour Bangladesh for the two-match Test series which will kick start on August 27 and the team is scheduled to fly on August 18 after enjoying the training camp in Darwin.
“I think we’ve reached a good compromise, one we can both live with, and one that will be good for the game and good for Australia’s cricketers,” Sutherland maintained.
As the pay dispute is over, the traditional Ashes series will go ahead as planned following the dissension and drama in Australia cricket.
“This process hasn’t been easy and history will judge whether it was all worth it in the end,” Sutherland further added.
The reports suggested players are supposed to get the payment owing to the revenue on the ‘modernised’ pattern which also includes female cricketers (fetching massive contracts) following the bodies reaching to the in-principle negotiations.
“It will restore much needed security to the game of cricket. It’s a sensible compromise from both parties,” Sutherland concluded.
As the Memorandum of Understanding expired on June 30, as many as 230 players were left unemployed including Test cricketers, as CA was aiming to scrap the pay model which was negotiated in 1997.