PLAYERS’ BODY FICA REPORTS PAYMENT ISSUES IN IPL AND WPL

International cricket players body, FICA, reported late/ non player payment issues in the IPL as well as WPL. The information was released by FICA while launching a ‘Leagues Hub’ on Wednesday, which the body claims is following a comprehensive review of all major men’s and women’s domestic leagues globally.

FICA’s latest global player and agent survey data indicates that ‘One in 4 players have experienced late or non-payment issues in domestic leagues sanctioned by national governing bodies and /or the ICC. The growth of domestic leagues around the world has been a great thing for cricket and has provided a number of new opportunities for players, however, inconsistencies with the treatment of players have led to the landscape being considered by many as the ‘Wild West,” Tom Moffat, FICA Chief Executive said.

While a lot of T20 leagues run by leading ICC member nations such as England’s Hundred, Australia’s Big Bash, West Indies’ CPL, South Africa’s SA20 were given a clean chit on player payments, the IPL by far the best paymasters were found to have payment issues. A similar adverse report was found with Pakistan’s PSL and some disapproved leagues.

HT reached out to BCCI for a comment on FICA’s findings but they didn’t get back. According to an IPL insider, the reported instance may have come from ‘a player or two’ who may have ‘disputed non-payment over promised availability status’.

In the inaugural WPL, West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin had contested her franchise Gujarat Giants’ claim that she was ruled out of the competition for failing to regain fitness from a medical situation.