Ashes threat as Australia misses pay row deadline

Sydney, June 30: Cricket Australia said it had failed to strike a new pay deal with the players’ union ahead of Friday’s deadline, leaving players unemployed and threatening fixtures including this year’s Ashes series.

CA said there was no prospect of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being resolved with the Australian Cricketers’ Association before the current deal expires at midnight local time (1400 GMT).

The impasse, following weeks of acrimonious dispute, throws into question the immediate future of almost 230 men and women players at domestic and international level, most of whom are now out of contract.

“Cricket Australia today acknowledged that a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will not be agreed before 1 July,” the statement read.

“And repeated its call for the Australian Cricketers’ Association to come to the negotiating table and show genuine flexibility in the best interests of the players and the game.

“CA has been disappointed by the ACA’s unwillingness to consider the sensible and necessary change CA has proposed to the fixed share of revenue player payments model.”

Along with the players, fixtures are also at risk including Australia’s Test tour to Bangladesh from August, the one-day international series in India in September and the home Ashes series against England later this year.

— AFP