The long standing dispute over payment of cricketers between Cricket Australia (CA) and Australian Cricketers represented by Australian Cricket Association (ACA ) has been finally resolved. The ice has melved and dark cloud which was gathering Australian Team tour of Bangladesh followed by ODI tour in India and finally Ashes at the end of year is cleared . Ceo CA James Sutherland and CEO CA Alistar Nicholson in joint press meet this afternoon in Melbourne happily announced the meeting of minds with both parties signalling the end of the dispute . Only yesterday Steve Smith spekaing on behalf of his mates cleared their intention of not going for any tour representing Australia till agreed MOU was signed bewteen CA and the players.
Players were not agreeing to the new terms offered by CA about not sharing revenue in fresh MOU and the dispute prolonged over 10 months. The previous MOU expired on 30 June 2017. About 230 international and state players were out of any contract since 1 July 2017. Pending resolution of dispute Australia A team regretted touring South Africa. Sponsors threatened of withdrawing. Even English Cricket board expressed their reservation about the Ashes.
The prolonged dispute put the Australia tour Bangladesh on a balance. In the meantime, an Australian team visited Bangladesh to assess the security arrangement of BCB and were reportedly happy though the venues were not in proper shape for incessant rain in the ongoing high monsoon. Australia suspended its scheduled tour last year at the very last minute for security concerns and even did not send their Under !9 team for Under 19 world cup.
This afternoon Sutherland and Nicholson announced the new agreement ending the bitter dispute over CA offered revised pay model of revenue sharing. 230 players international and domestic became unemployed following CA and ACA failing to agree concluding new MOU.
The new agreement now pave the way for Australia honouring all upcoming international commitments including tour to Bangladesh and India. Ashes will be held on schedule. CA CEO regretted that the dispute caused cancellation of Australian A team touring South Africa.
Since the beginning of the dispute Australian cricketers of the past Mark Taylor, Michael Clark and Alan Border were expressing concerns. Australian cricket was in disrepute as proposals were there for taking the dispute to arbitration. Fortunately, good senses prevailed and both sides came to an amicable settlement.
CA CEO mentioned that all state and international players would have their new contracts with CA immediately. Under agreed arrangement Australian internationals will be highest paid professional players in Australia. It will also ensure highest pay rise for the Australian Women players.
Bangladesh in recent times has done exceedingly well in all formats of cricket . It qualified for quarter final in the last ICC world cup played in Australia New Zealand in 2015 and played in the semi-final in the recently concluded ICC Champions trophy in England. Bangladesh also drew test series against England at home and against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.
Weather permitting the two match test series is expected to generate intense contest. Bangladesh stretched Ricky Ponting led strong Australian team to its limit in the first test at Fatullah , Dhaka when they last met. It was only through an extra ordinary fighting innings by Ponting that deprived Bangladesh apart from a dropped crucial catch of Ponting by Mashrafee.
This Australian team is almost a new unit. But Bangladesh has many who played in the last series. Given the recent form of Australia in the sub-continent Australia may struggle against Bangladesh attack. Bangladeshi experienced batsmen may not be easy for Australian attack to contain.
But the best thing for Australia and world cricket is that at last peace has been restored in Australian cricket front. For us the Bangladeshi Australian it will be head against heart in Australia Bangladesh duet.
BDST: 1730 HRS, AUG 03, 2017
EHJ
