Melbourne, June 2: Unhappy over performance related payment issues, Australian players are planning to boycott the ODI tour of England next month.
According to ‘The Australian', the cricketers are mulling to go on strike during the one-day tour of England scheduled to be held from June 29-July 10 or the World Twenty20 at Sri Lanka in September-October.
“Relationships between players and management are heated and threatening to become as ugly as the stand-off surrounding the first player contract negotiations during Mark Taylor's captaincy (1994-1999),” the paper said.
“Cricket Australia is playing hardball in negotiations and has frozen all state and Big Bash (domestic T20) contract talks under the threat of a Aus$50,000 ($48,400) fine until the new agreement is in place,” it added.
However, Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has made some contingency plans if in case the stand—off is not resolved before July 1 with Cricket Australia.
“There's only 29 days of negotiations left to run, so of course we are preparing for the eventuality of not having a deal in place before the end of July,” Marsh said.
“We are looking at all of our different options,” he added.
The paper said that the players and Cricket Australia were progressing towards an agreement on a controversial shift to performance-based pay when CA tabled a demand to change the definition of cricket revenue.
“The association considers that a Aus$30 million cash grab and there is frustration that the bid was tabled late in negotiations,” The paper said.
“The players argue they are not asking for more money, but want to ensure they do not receive less at a time when the game is in reasonable financial health.”
The main sticking point in the negotiations has been the move to adjust the players' revenue share according to performance, it said.
“At the moment the players receive 26 per cent of all cricket income but that would move to a sliding scale under a new deal,” the paper said.
“The pot from which the percentage is taken would shrink under the proposals.”
