Australian players find support in FICA regarding Pay Dispute With Cricket Australia

The Federation if International Cricketers Association has backed the players of Australia regarding recent payment dispute with Cricket Australia. International stalwarts and members of the FICA such as Graeme Smith, Vikram Solanki, Lisa Sthalekar and many more have voiced their opinion in support of the players, thereby, displaying a huge amount of solidarity and unity within the Australian camp.

FICA in their recent media announcement stated that they were concerned about the Boards inclination towards the termination of percentage revenue sharing model which was responsible for maintaining harmony among the players and the board.

With the end of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the players and CA, as many as 230 professional cricketers under FICA have been rendered unemployed following the failure of the Board to negotiate a new agreement with the ACA.

“FICA is concerned with CA’s desire to end the percentage revenue sharing model that has so successfully underpinned the partnership between the players and administrators in Australia for twenty years. The model has not only been hugely successful for Australian cricket but has been a model of best practice adopted by associations in cricket and other sports, worldwide,” claimed FICA said in a media statement according to news18.com. Further, a huge amount of mistrust has been generated regarding the Australian Cricket Board approach to dealing which doesn’t abide professionalism and transparency.

“FICA is also seriously concerned with CA’s approach to its dealings with the ACA throughout this ongoing process. FICA commends the ACA and the Australian players for their unity and resolve and for their consistent attempts to negotiate with CA in a professional and transparent manner, including their willingness to use independent mediation to reach a resolution,” continued FICA in its statement.

Smith, Solanki and Sthalekar voice their opinion on the revenue share partnership model

Former English International and FICA chief, Vikram Solanki believed that players and the board should work in tandem to generate maximum profit out of the game in this modern day and age of cricket. Former South African captain and FICA Independent Board Member Graeme Smith cited out his partnership with Cricket South Africa which was fostered by the revenue share partnership model.

“The players are the game. History has shown that where country boards work in genuine partnership with players and their representatives the game thrives and succeeds. Cricket is at a crucial moment in its history, with new and competing markets for players, fans, and broadcasters. I believe that boards should be working more collaboratively with players in the current cricket landscape, not pushing them away” quoted Vikram Solanki.

“I was part of a revenue share partnership model for many years as a player and this was a critical factor in fostering the relationship between Board and players. In the current cricket environment where players have other options I don’t understand why a board would want to change a partnership that has proved to be successful,” revealed Graeme Smith.

“It has been heartening to see the unity shown by the male and female players across Australia at a time when they have come under immense pressure. I know there is a lot of support around the world for the principled stance they are taking to maintain a genuine partnership for all players, not just a few,” remarked the former Australian Women’s team captain Lisa Sthalekar.