MELBOURNE: Australia captain Steve Smith has played down a tense stand-off in pay negotiations between the players’ union and the national cricket board, saying his team is highly motivated to cut a deal and play the Ashes against England.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) has rejected an offer by Cricket Australia (CA) which waters down a revenue-share arrangement that the players have enjoyed for 20 years.
CA has dug in its heels, saying players would not be offered alternative contracts if they failed to agree to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, with the old one set to expire on June 30.
Smith said players were supportive of the ACA, who were “working really hard with CA to get a deal right”, but he backed away from opening batsman David Warner’s remark that Australia might not have a team for the Ashes starting in November.
“I saw the comments. Of course we want to play in the Ashes, and of course we want everything to go well there,” Smith told media in London ahead of the Champions Trophy.
“It’s just about making sure the guys finalise a deal and get the MOU (memorandum of understanding) sorted and everything will be fine.”
American sprinter Christian Coleman. — AFP/FileSHANGHAI: American sprinter Christian Coleman believes that Usain...
This screengrab taken from a video released on April 26, 2024, shows the children watching a cricket match between...
Royal Challengers Bangaluru batter Faf du Plessis plays a shot during the Indian Premier League 2024 match between...
In this picture, the players are playing a hockey match. — AFP/FileISLAMABAD: Trials to select Pakistan team for the...
New Zealand’s pacer William O’Rourke celebrates the wicket of Pakistan batter Saim Ayub with his teammates during...
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's pre-match press conference at National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi. —...