After the MOU with Cricket Australia expired on June 30, Australian Cricketers’ Association held an emergency meeting to look into the issue of 230 cricketers left jobless.
Players united as one at the ACA meeting and made crucial decisions in order to send a message that they will put their foot down. As a consequence to the meeting, Australia A side has decided to abandon the South Africa tour unless a new MOU is struck by Friday.
However, the Australian women cricket team will continue the campaign at the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 taking place in London as ‘they agreed to do in good faith prior to the expiration of the MOU.’
The fight on revenue share model that has emerged out of difference in ideologies has left more than 230 cricketers unemployed. Here is the full list of resolutions passed at the Australian Cricketers’ Association Meeting that took place on Sunday –
Statement in support of cricket
Players resolved first and foremost to express their highest respect for the game of cricket and its fans, and for the great honour of being a professional cricketer in Australia.
Players expressed their desire to be on the field playing the game they love, interacting with the fans and supporters of cricket and representing their states and countries as soon as possible.
Response to the behaviour of CA: players will support their teammates
Australia’s male and female cricketers expressed disappointment at the conduct of CA during the MOU negotiations.
And were concerned that 20 years of good faith partnership had been disrespected and disregarded by CA.
The players noted with great pride that the efforts by CA to divide them has had the opposite effect.
That across domestic and international lines and between men and women, resolve and unity had grown even stronger.
And that for CA to have thought otherwise was to misunderstand what it means to be a member of a team as an Australian cricket player.
Fair remuneration
Not all players reach the top level of cricket. If they do, players have a relatively short career at that level. As such it was important for all players, men and women, domestic and international to be fairly remunerated for their efforts.
The Executive noted in relation to CA’s March offer, that with the removal of accounting tricks and with more realistic assumptions, the overall funding to the players is significantly less than how it has been presented to the players.
Players to stay united as a matter of principle
The players have resolved that, unless contractually obliged, no male or female players intend to play for a Cricket Australia (CA) team whilst fellow players remain unemployed due to the absence of an MOU.
This is an outright rejection of CA’s attempts to divide and rule.
It is a resolution which will be revisited at the next and subsequent ACA Executive meetings, since the players remain hopeful that common sense will prevail and a new MOU can still be agreed on fair terms.
In terms of contractual obligation:
The Executive noted that all players with valid and enforceable contracts (such as multi-year State or BBL deals) will continue to honour them, and will expect their employers to do the same. This includes an expectation of the players sharing in revenue as contained in those contracts. If this is not honoured by their employer, then the enforceability of these contracts will also become questionable.
The Executive noted legal advice that a State Player may “accept” or reject an offer to participate on a Tour with CA, such as the proposed Australia A Tour of South Africa.
Australia’s Women’s World Cup Squad will continue and complete their Tournament as they agreed to do in good faith prior to the expiration of the MOU. The ACA wished them the best in their endeavours.
Upcoming Australia A Tour of South Africa by CA
All Australian professional cricketers are not obliged to and are unavailable to Tour South Africa as a part of the Australia A team without an agreed MOU.
This decisio
List of resolutions passed at the Australia Cricketers’ Association meeting
