(MENAFN- The Peninsula) AFP
Sydney: Australia's cricketers have been warned this year's Ashes series could be scrapped, even if a new pay deal is reached with the game's governing body, reports said.
Australian Cricketers Association chief Alistair Nicholson has warned the players via email the showpiece Test series against England, due to begin in Brisbane on November 23, is under threat.
Negotiations over a new Memorandum of Understanding between players and Cricket Australia have all but broken down, although Nicholson and CA counterpart James Sutherland are scheduled to meet today, Fairfax Media said.
'If there is agreement, the next step would be the more intensive MOU and contract drafting period, Nicholson told the players in an email, seen by Fairfax Media.
'Given past experience and the massive detail involved, this would take some time and still may not be completed with time enough to meet the needs of fans, sponsors and broadcasters invested in the upcoming tours and the (Australian) summer of cricket.
'I add that it is hard to conceive of any further flexibility the players could possibly offer in these negotiations.
Cricket Australia said it was surprised and perplexed by the ACA's claims but would not comment on key details.
Australia's next series is a Test tour of Bangladesh in August. While the Ashes are almost four months away, much preparation, including broadcast inventory and sponsorship and advertising deals, must be locked in far earlier, Fairfax Media said.
It added that the players had thought the two parties had reached common ground since Sutherland joined negotiations earlier this month.
After months of negotiations, the players and CA have failed to reach agreement on a new pay deal, leaving 230 cricketers unemployed since the end of June when their contracts expired.
In an escalation of the protracted pay dispute, the players, through their union the ACA, decided to boycott this month's Australia A tour of South Africa.
Meanwhile in Melbourne, Cricket Australia has settled a dispute with former test spin bowler Stuart MacGill over more than $635,000 in salary and match payments he claimed he was owed after injury forced his retirement in 2008.
The 46-year-old MacGill agreed to mediation earlier this week ahead of a trial scheduled to start on Aug. 14 in Victoria state.
The Australian Associated Press reported Friday that the parties had reached an agreement, but no details were released.
MacGill was initially seeking $2.06m, including $1.27m in match payments, prize money and retainers, and nearly $800,000 in interest. MacGill played 44 test matches for Australia and claimed 208 wickets. His last Test was in 2008 on a tour of the West Indies.
MENAFN2207201700630000ID1095648959
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.