Players union flexes muscle over demand for bigger slice of TV cash

The Professional Cricketers’ Association has laid down four “nonnegotiables” when it comes to discussing cricket’s new pay deal.

The PCA is demanding a rise in the salary cap when the England and Wales Cricket Board’s new broadcast deal takes effect in 2020.

The union is negotiating new central contracts for England players and is part of discussions around the county-partnership agreement which covers how counties are able to spend the money they receive from the ECB, which is set to rise by £1.3million in 2020 to over £3million per year.

Daryl Mitchell, the PCA chairman, has said he was surprised to hear that county chief executives were told last week there would be no rise in the £2million salary cap in 2020.

It is insisting on four conditions to protect players at all levels of the game. They cover a rise in the salary collar (the minimum amount counties pay their entire playing staff), the salary cap, the minimum wage and a vague demand that all male and female players “must benefit” from the new television deal.

A PCA report last month revealed widespread abuse of the minimum wage in county cricket and there are fears those players who do not feature in the new Hundred competition will be left behind when new pay deals are signed.

“You can’t have a situation where a huge amount of money comes into the game and the players do not benefit from it. We have made that very clear to the ECB and we are going to be very strong on this issue. It really is non-negotiable,” said Mitchell.

“Our four principles revolve around making sure all players receive their fair share of the new broadcast deal. We want to make sure that all 420 current playing members benefit.”

Steve Denison, the Yorkshire chairman, looks likely to be forced to stand down after he was suspended for 15 years by the Financial Reporting Council for his part in the auditing of British Home Stores while in his role as a partner for Pricewaterhousecoopers.

The ECB’S fit and proper person’s test states an individual cannot serve on a board or general committee if they have been suspended by a professional regulatory body.