Cricket pay dispute ramps up

Australian cricket’s pay war has escalated, with players set to establish their own image rights company allowing them to sign with rival sponsors and even join entrepreneurial competitions.

With no sign of movement in discussions with Cricket Australia (CA) ahead of a June 30 deadline for a new memorandum of understanding, the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) yesterday unveiled plans to form a new business, The Cricketers Brand.

This business would house the marketing and media rights of players that currently are owned by CA. Under the plan, almost all of Australia’s international male and female players have already agreed to sign over their name, voice, signature, trademarks, images, likeness and even ‘‘performance’’ to the new company run through the ACA by former first-class cricketer, Tim Cruickshank. The company would also run player interviews, appearances and promotions.

This move comes as players prepare to safeguard their earnings if they are locked out and not paid by CA should a new memorandum of understanding, or at least a heads of agreement on the major issues, not be reached by July 1.

ACA chief Alistair Nicholson denied it was a power play by the players fighting to retain the revenue-sharing model that has been in place since 1997. CA wants to largely disband this, prompting suggestions this summer’s Ashes series could be in doubt.

‘‘It’s actually around getting some stability around post-June 30, if that’s what happens. We actually see it as a necessity and a constructive way of trying to stop some of that uncertainty,’’ Nicholson said.

Nicholson said the company format would be an ‘‘interim’’ position, with image rights returning entirely to CA should that be brokered in a new MOU. He said there were similar models used in US sports. What that means in the short term is that rival sponsors to CA’s official partners and even rival broadcasters to Channel Nine could partner with players until a MOU is secured.

Should the fight drag on, cricketers, for instance, would have the opportunity of even playing in an Australian-based Twenty20 tournament from July – should there be financial backing. Players may have to seek a ‘‘no objection’’ certificate from CA but if they are locked out and not paid by CA, that could be a moot point.

‘‘We have, obviously, asked to mediate [with CA]. We have got the top players in the world coming out of contract, so we are getting inquiries from broadcasters and sponsors around what happens,’’ he said.

‘‘That is something we have spoken to them about. Again, it’s around trying to get some certainty around what is happening at the moment.’’

Players can still broker sponsorship deals directly with their agents.

A CA spokesman said on Tuesday the governing body remained ready to negotiate, having submitted plans for Australia’s top male players to earn several million dollars a year and for international female stars to immediately earn $200,000 a year. State-based players would still earn more than $200,000 a year but be paid from a set pool.

‘‘Cricket Australia remains ready and willing to begin negotiations and remains confident that an agreement can be reached once they begin. The only reason that these talks have not begun is because the ACA is insisting that certain preconditions be met. That goes against the basic principle of good-faith negotiations, and could not be used in any mediation,’’ a CA spokesman said.

"It's around trying to get some certainty around what is happening at the moment." ACA chief Alistair Nicholson, above