Australian resolution found on player issues for ICC events
Australian players have agreed to sign the event documentation, subject to the ICC formally agreeing to consult with players before concluding commercial arrangements for ICC events other than those that have already been sold.
ACB Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the ICC's agreement to this remaining issue was contingent on approval from the ICC's Executive Board, which is due to meet next week.
"Based on my discussions with the ICC, I expect that the ICC Executive Board's approval on this final matter will be a mere formality," Mr Sutherland said.
This outcome will see a full-strength Australian team compete in the ICC Champions Trophy this September.
Mr Sutherland said that acceptable solutions had been found that address the concerns of the players.
"Over the past week, the Australian Cricket Board and Australian Cricketers' Association have worked closely in an effort to reach agreement on how a number of issues could be dealt with to the satisfaction of both parties and the International Cricket Council," Mr Sutherland said.
"In finding resolution today, we are acknowledging the significant investment the ICC's commercial partners have made in cricket and we have worked to balance this with the interests and concerns of Australian players.
"Our solution involves a common sense approach towards a number of matters that have to date delayed the players' and the ACB's ability to sign ICC documentation for these events."
Mr Sutherland and ACA Chief Executive Tim May agreed that the model for compromise constructed by the ACB and ACA, in consultation with the ICC, provides a template for discussions between other cricket nations and their players.
"We believe that this template will provide solutions that can be used by all countries to end this dispute and to ensure that the world's best players are able to participate in the Champions Trophy," Mr May said.
The template includes resolutions for the following issues:
In the case of overseas players, the template suggests a compensation model for the substantial rights the players have given up.
Mr Sutherland confirmed that the ICC has accepted the ACB/ACA template.
"The ICC has informed the ACB that it is satisfied with the outcomes of our discussions with the ACA and has indicated that the model we have established may be used for discussions in other countries," Mr Sutherland said.
"This is an excellent example of the effective working relationship the ACB has with its player representative body."
Mr May said that it is important that the players' rights in respect to ICC events have been recognised.
The players' representative also confirmed that the Australian players were determined to ensure that players from other participating nations were afforded similar conditions through the use of this template.
"This issue has arisen as a result of the players' rights being overlooked when the ICC sold the commercial rights to these events," Mr May said.
"The players have strong feelings about the failings of the process around the sale of these rights; however, in the interests of the game, both the ACB and the players recognise that some compromise was needed.
"It is a fundamental platform of these resolutions that in future the ICC must consult with player representatives ahead of any negotiations relating to the sale of players' commercial rights," he said.
The 14 players selected for the ICC Champions Trophy are currently in Brisbane for a training camp in preparation for the Travelex Australian Tour of Kenya and the Sri Lankan event.
The players met with the ACB and ACA last night (21 August) to discuss all of the relevant issues. Having considered the information overnight the players re-convened this morning and collectively decided to sign the "Player Terms" for the Champions Trophy.
Mr Sutherland confirmed that the ACB will today sign the Participating Nations Agreement for the ICC Champions Trophy, which gives an undertaking that a full-strength side will be sent to Sri Lanka.
Mr Sutherland said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between the ACB and ACA in May 2001 was an important component of these discussions.
"Among other contractual matters, the Memorandum of Understanding sets out player payment terms for the four years to 2005," he said.
"Our agreement with the players not only sets out premium match payments for players who represent Australia in the World Cup, but also allows ACB and state contracted players to share in the significant revenue streams that flow from the ICC to the ACB."
Mr May said he was satisfied with the player payments model.
"Australian and state players will receive 25 per cent of the dividend that the ACB receives for the Champions Trophy and the 2003 World Cup and we believe this is an effective way of providing consideration for the substantial rights the players have given up in relation to the events," he said.
The Australian team departs for Kenya from Brisbane on Monday 26 August. On Sunday 8 September, following the Tri-Nations Cup in Nairobi, the team travels directly to Colombo for the ICC Champions Trophy.
© 2002 Australian Cricket Board
| Teams | Australia. |
| Players/Umpires | James Sutherland, Tim May. |
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