SACA hopes for deal on contracts

JOHANNESBURG: CSA and the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) will have an urgent meeting on Wednesday to try and reach common ground on player contracts, which SACA hopes will in place by May 1.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CSA and SACA, which expires on April 30, is likely to be delayed, leaving the majority of South Africa’s cricketers out of contract — a situation SACA wants to avoid.

Though it is unlikely that there will be a mass walkout if players are out of contract, it would mean players will not get paid and could cause the already tense relations and the board to worsen.

SACA has stressed that contracts could not simply be rolled over as they would need to fit into the framework of the new MOU. SACA also blamed the governing body for the delays and said messages to CSA had gone unanswered for several weeks.Now it appears the player contracts could be completed by the time the MOU expires, which would allow for some calm to return.