Payment dispute may defer Big Bash League for 12 months
According to the Cricket New South Wales' chief executive officer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Gilbert-c52821, the ongoing dispute over players’ payment may defer Cricket Australia (CA)’s ambitious Twenty20 league, Big Bash, for 12 months.
Big Bash, which is scheduled to be held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 next summer, involves eight city-based teams, Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder.
Expressing his concerns over the row between Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers Association (ACA), Gilbert made it clear that the dispute has reached its worst condition and cannot be neglected any further.
"I just had this instinct it might be deferred for 12 months because there were a lot of unresolved issues and I suppose it was a worry we were rushing it, but clearly the opportunity is something that can't be ignored," The Age quoted Gilbert, as saying.
Cricket Australia and Australian Cricketers Association are engaged in a disagreement on the issue of payments and fixtures arrangement for the tournament. The contracting of the players is still pending as the teams cannot hire players until a memorandum
of understanding (MOU) takes place between the two parties.
Both Sydney and Melbourne have two teams each. Earlier in the talks between CA and ACA, both sides decided to sell out a Sydney and a Melbourne outfit to private investors.
However, it is still not clear which of the two from each team will be sold. On the other hand, the ACA is seeking a big share from the profits, which CA is not ready to grant.
The negotiations between the two parties are officially suspended. However, CA chief executive, James Sutherland, is hopeful that the issue will be resolved soon.
“There is enough good will on both sides to find a way through this, we both need a positive outcome. We'd like to have Australian players, state players and Big Bash League players contracted as soon as possible and I'm sure on the ACA's side their members
would like to know the status of their contracts as soon as possible as well," Sutherland stated.
Sutherland also told that as per the initial policy, the whole profit was to go to the treasure of CA which would allocate to ACA.
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