Another cricket impasse

Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S cricketers are holding out on signing the 2014 International Cricket Council World Cup Twenty20 contracts, just days before their trip to Bangladesh, even though they could earn as much as US$11 500 each for their dance at the global showcase.The players could earn as much as US$2 700 each per every second round game won.

The Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association have demanded for another meeting, with Zimbabwe Cricket authorities, in Bulawayo on Monday to resolve the issue.

However, the ZC officials have questioned the need for them to travel to Bulawayo for the meeting, when the game’s headquarters is based in Harare, amid fears that a third force has emerged that is trying to disrupt the team’s participation at the World Cup and some of the players are now being used as pawns.

Sources told The Saturday Herald yesterday that five senior players — skipper Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura and Vusi Sibanda — are the ones who are holding out for a bigger share of the earnings from the Twenty20 World Cup and their voices have become the guiding sound for the ZPCA.

The other 10 players are being dragged along in the dispute.

Last night ZC released a detailed statement showing that an impasse has emerged between the organisation and the players over World Cup payments.

“Following from a process put in place in September last year to discuss the issue of player appearance fees for the 2014 International Cricket Council World Twenty20 tournament, Zimbabwe Cricket had a meeting with the secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers Association, Eliah Zvimba, on the 14th of February this year,” read the statement.

“The meeting ended in deadlock and it was resolved to take the matter to arbitration, in accordance with discussions which had seen the meeting of the 15th of January 2014 agreeing that the arbitration process was to be guided by ZC Past President and now Honorary Life President Alwyn Pichanick.

“Subsequently, ZC, in consultation with Mr Pichanick, had identified former ZC managing director and now Honorary Life Vice-President Don Arnott as arbitrator.

“The Zimbabwe Cricket offer in summary was that each player participating in the first two rounds of the ICC WT20 tournament effectively earns 11 500 (US) dollars and the 15-man squad share 125 thousand (US) dollars, meaning a personal amount of 8 333 (US) dollars which amounts to US$19 833, while not taking into account winning bonuses which could be 2 700 (US) dollars per player per second round match won.

“Because the players’ current contracts with ZC end in August this year, the players will also be receiving their normal monthly salaries as per those contracts while they are at the 2014 ICC WT20 tournament.

“ZC said it made the offer against the background that revenue from ICC events is meant to sustain ZC from one four-year cycle to the next.

“ZC also pointed out that following the deadlock during the February 14 negotiations, the matter should go for arbitration, as previously agreed.”

The Zimbabwe Cricket authorities said, in response, the ZPCA rejected arbitration.

“They accepted what ZC had offered them, but only on condition that ZC agreed to putting 25 percent of the distribution amount due to it from the ICC for the tournament, that is 2,225 million dollars, into a pool to pay the players next season at ZPCA’s discretion,” the ZC statement said.

“The ZPCA said the pool would guarantee player payments and so avoiding the situation which occurred late last year of delayed salaries andmatch fees and enable ZC and the ZPCA to agree in due course on the appropriate number of contracts for next season.

“ZC expressed disappointment with the ZPCA’s turning back on its earlier agreement to go for arbitration. ZC pointed out that Zimbabwe’s participation at the ICC WT20 tournament was in terms of the current contracts between the ZC and the players and that with ZC having paid the players all that it owed them, if their action led to ZC breaching its obligation with the ICC to play in the tournament, the players would be liable for the breach and ZC would claim from them any damages occasioned by their conduct.

“ZC also said that it did not see the rationale of the ZPCA agreement being subjected to the condition that ZC should agree to proposals for future contracts as these were separate issues.

“ZC recommended that there be a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for ZC to conclude, by end of May 2014, negotiations with the players for next season’s contracts.

“The MOU would also capture the current demands by the players and the fact that ZC needed to study the demands in the context of its anticipated income.

“ZC also pledged its commitment to continue negotiations in good faith but expressed disappointment that despite several requests followed by promises from the ZPCA to submit its full official register of members, the organisation had not done so.”

Yesterday, the ZPCA advised the ZC that they were now rejecting the initial offer, which they had accepted, which came from the cricket leadership.

“This evening the ZPCA wrote to ZC rejecting its earlier acceptance of the ZC offer. It said that subsequently the players have gone on collective job action with immediate effect,” the ZC said in a statement.

“But even after declaring that move, the ZPCA invited ZC to a meeting in Bulawayo at 0830 hours on Monday. Efforts by ZC to move that meeting to the ZC head office in Harare where cricket documentation is kept where unsuccessful.”

The ZC have also given the players a schedule of what others are scheduled to get for representing their countries at the Twenty20 World Cup and other commitments.

OTHER CRICKET BOARDS

Australia

CA does not distinguish between ICC and other FTP matches. Player payments are the same regardless of source. The pay rates are a function of consolidated revenue (CA + States). This includes ICC distributions. Players receive between 24% and 26% of total revenue spread over a 5 year period. The total player payments pool is split between annual base retainers and match/tour fees. CA has a 5 year agreement with players. They don’t have to negotiate on a tour to tour basis.

Bangladesh

Test -US$1,875 ODI- US$1250 T20 -US$625 Players & team management — US$25/day as tour fees

England

ECB pays the standard match fees. In addition to paying players standard match fees that would apply if the ICC event matches were part of a normal bilateral tour, ECB also pays players a lump some payment in recognition of the enhanced profile of the ICC tournament and the additional commercial restrictions placed on players around the time of ICC events. ECB pays prize money if team wins an ICC event

New Zealand

NZC does not have a specific payment for ICC events. NZC has an 8 year agreement with players based on a payment system that provides 50% of the annual salary paid as an annual retainer and the balance paid in match fees.

India

Response Awaited

Pakistan

PCB does not share any income from ICC events with players.

South Africa

Players receive 20% of ICC distributions/participation fees and 80% of prize money.

Sri Lanka

Players get match fees. Players are entitled to 100% of the prize money. Players do not receive any share of the participation fees and event guarantee fees.

Timeline of the ZC/ZPCA

Discussions

14 Feb Meeting held between ZC and ZPCA in which ZC offers and ZPCA rejects figures. ZC says we go to arbitration.

14 Feb ZPCA writes to ZC saying it agreed to arbitration and awaits info on that.

17 Feb ZC writes to ZPCA capturing highlights of the 14 meeting, detailing appearance fees offered etc.

21 Feb ZPCA writes to ZC accepting its offer but on condition of 25% of ICC WT20 revenue accruing to ZC from ICC. Note that in this letter ZPCA rejects arbitration which it had agreed to re: their letter of 14 Feb.

26 Feb ZC writes to ZPCA responding to its letter of 21 Feb.

28 Feb ZPCA writes to ZC saying it will go on strike. Note their own constitution says they cannot go on strike without giving employer 14 days notice! Note too that even with going on strike, ZPCA invites ZC to a meeting in Byo.