Australia cricketers threaten strike, Ashes pullout over pay dispute

Australian professional cricketers are taking on the Board and even hinted at a pullout from The Ashes as negotiations with the Australian Cricketers’ Union (ACA) and Cricket Australia (CA) fell apart over the proposed remuneration.

Australian cricketers, past and present, did not shy away from taking on the Australian cricket board as the negotiations with the Australian Cricketers’ Union (ACA) and Cricket Australia (CA) fell apart over the proposed remuneration.

Australian cricket players are in an intense discussion with the board over their remuneration and have even started their own hashtag #fairshare to support thier cause.(AFP)

Australia’s professional cricketers rejected a pay offer from the sport’s governing body last month, saying the proposal was “a win for cricket administrators but a loss for cricket”.

Stay tuned with breaking news on HT Channel on Facebook. Join Now

READ | Reduce BCCI’s revenue and it could only result in IPL’s expansion

CA released their proposal in March, offering large salary increases, particularly for women, but breaking with the 20-year model of a fixed percentage of revenue from the game going to the cricketers.

CA chief executive James Sutherland told the ACA that they needed to meet terms with CA or players would go unpaid when the existing collective bargaining agreement expires on June 30.

Australian cricketer took to Twitter in response to the CA’s email with the hashtag #fairshare.

Australian pace ace Mitchell Starc hinted the players might go on strike as the The Ashes looms large. “Makes for an interesting men’s and women’s ashes...,” he tweeted.

READ | On Mother’s Day, cricket stars show they are still mama’s boys

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson seconded Starc’s view. “Well said @mstarc56. It will be an interesting game of cricket without any players,” he tweeted.

“Players are staying strong,” tweeted Australian pacer Pat Cummins.

“Players past & present will stay strong,” tweeted fast bowler Mitchell Johnson. The ACA said in response that the “threats... were a window into the nature of CA’s behaviour in these negotiations so far.”

READ | IPL 2017 play-offs: Shoot-out for 4th spot between RPS and KXIP

“There is incoherence and aggression in what we have experienced at the negotiating table from CA,” ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said in a statement on Sunday.

“This has further been demonstrated this week with some top players being offered multi-years deals one day only to now be threatened the next.”

The ACA has asked CA to go into mediation talks to try to end a dispute that has rumbled for over six months.