PCA to change 'outdated' system for England's IPL contracted players

The Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) is trying to inculcate a change to their old system which makes England cricketers without central contracts pay some proportion of their yearly salaries to their respective counties for missing matches due to the Indian Premier League (IPL). As per the outdated system, the English cricketers, who are not having central contracts have to pay 1% of their annual salaries to their counties for the first 21 days of the IPL season.

It does not stop here as the players have to give a further 0.7% for the remaining matches they play. Initially, the England Cricket Board (ECB) were reluctant in their players participating in the IPL, but as time went by, star players, as well as the fringe players, have started to participate in it.

PCA are looking into all sorts of combinations and trying to work things out sooner. “There was a formula put in place back in 2010 of deductions from county salaries for those taking part in the IPL,” Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s director of cricket operations, told ESPNCricinfo.

“We’ve had requests from members about it and, we feel as though it needs updating, and that there need to be conversations around what that formula looks like.”

Currently, Sam Billings (Delhi Capitals), Chris Jordon (Punjab Kings), Liam Livingstone (Rajasthan Royals), and Dawid Malan (Punjab Kings) are the players without central contracts in the England team. Apart from these four, even Tom Banton and Harry Gurney too were in similar positions in the past year or so and were affected by the PCA’s outdated system.

“I think everyone would agree that the cricketing world has changed substantially since 2010 and England’s stance with regards to a player playing in the IPL has changed,” added Mitchell.

It is outdated and needs changing: Daryl Mitchell

Mitchell concluded by saying that the old system needs revision and, they will try to bring some compensation to the counties when their players are away playing IPL.

“We absolutely believe that the counties need compensating and, we’re not getting away from the fact that players are spending time away – there does need to be some compensation when counties are missing their players for that window. We’re just saying that it needs to be reviewed and looked at – it’s outdated and needs changing.”