Cricket Australia, cricketers’ union end pay dispute; Bangladesh series on

Australia’s top 230 players were effectively unemployed since the last five-year agreement expired on June 30 and an “A” tour of South Africa has already fallen victim to the lockout. Australia are scheduled to play two Tests in Bangladesh

The dispute over wages between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association has ended. According to cricket.com.au, an in-principle agreement has been signed after a final round of face-to-face negotiations in Melbourne on Thursday. (India vs Sri Lanka, Second Test Live)

An in-principle agreement has been signed by Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers’ Association after final round of face-to-face negotiations in Melbourne on Thursday morning. (Getty Images)

The agreement was signed between Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland and players’ union chief Alistair Nicholson.

“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,” James Sutherland told a news conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“In announcing this agreement we are restoring certainty, beginning to repair relationships, especially with the fans. We want the focus to be back on the cricket.”

Australia’s top 230 players have effectively been unemployed since the last five-year agreement expired on June 30 and an “A” tour of South Africa has already fallen victim to the lockout.

Australia captain Steve Smith told Fox Sports TV on Tuesday he was confident of a deal being brokered, but confirmed players would not travel to Bangladesh for a two-Test tour starting this month until the dispute was resolved.

Sutherland proposed taking the matter to binding arbitration if a deal was not struck by early this week.

(With agency inputs)