England Central Contracts: ECB agrees to 3-year framework with players’ association
English cricketers would fly to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 by the end of October with their minds free of contractual issues overhanging the squad as the England Cricket Board has agreed to a three-year framework with Professional Cricketers' Association that covers all
the dialogues up until 30th September 2013.
The central contracts had earlier become a question mark for some of England's senior players following the start of the lucrative Indian Premier League that harbingers a new era of financial opportunities for the cricketers further than international cricket.
The contracts that ECB had offered to its players for 2009/10 mostly remained unsigned all through the recently concluded season.
Although, individual central contracts will still be offered for a 12-month stint but the agreed agenda would cover all the compensation matters for next three years. The agreed framework includes a wide-ranging set of agreements covering the off-field as
well as on-field matters, further including England players' participation in the IPL and the payment owed to ECB and English counties in case a player is released to play for other.
PCA's Chief Executive, Angus Porter told the reporters that both parties had agreed that a long-term deal rather than an annual bun-fight would be in the best interest of England cricket.
"It's been a long process but ultimately a very constructive one," Porter said. "You could say that we've signed this year's contracts spot on time, or that we are 12 months' late with last year's, but either way, I think all parties accepted that an annual
bun fight is not in the best interest of England cricket. It has made much more sense to agree a long-term deal going forward."
Meanwhile, ECB's Managing Director, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hugh-Morris-c63550 stated, "We are delighted to have concluded a three-year deal and to have all contractual issues resolved well in advance of the Ashes tour." He added, "The terms and conditions are well structured, will encompass
two Ashes series and an ICC Cricket World Cup, and will continue to offer additional rewards to players for successful team performances.”
Morris maintained that although reaching to the conclusion took a little while but it was worth it. He further added that negotiations with the players had become more complicated and wide-ranging over the last six or seven year so the board management needed
to tackle a lot of issues one by one and then put them all in the form of a document.
Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Porter-c82384 argued, "This agreement is good for the players and good for cricket in England and Wales. We are delighted that the England players will be able to focus on cricket for the next three years without the risk of being distracted by contract
negotiations."
The three-year timeline has been selected as it matches the existing commercial deals of ECB, particularly their current broadcasting deal with BSkyB, which would also expire in 2013.
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