Players’ body urges ICC to address contract breaches, non-payment

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) - A third of international male cricketers have not been paid or suffered breaches of contract from events regulated by the global governing body or its member nations, the international players’ federation said yesterday.

The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) said after the release of its ‘Men’s Global Employment Report 2020’ that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had a duty to protect those working within its regulatory framework.

An ICC spokesman told Reuters that the body was looking at the contents of the report.

The report cited examples such as Bangladesh players not receiving their share of prize money from an ICC event, and their counterparts in Zimbabwe, another ICC full member, still waiting for their board to pay their contracts.

It also listed unresolved payment issues in Twenty20 and 10-overs leagues in several minor cricket-playing nations including Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

“Systematic contract breaches and non-payment of players are issues that urgently need addressing,” FICA Chief Executive Tom Moffat said.

“The ICC has an obligation to protect people working within its regulatory frameworks and it’s time something was done about this issue.

“We continue to urge decision makers to work with FICA at global level, and players’ associations at domestic level, to develop joint solutions to issues ... many of which are likely to be exacerbated by the current global situation.”

FICA also called for an end to “blanket bans on players from certain countries playing abroad” and limitations on the number of overseas league contracts a player may hold.