Cricket's pay war continues to fester with Cricket Australia (CA) accusing the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) of double standards over why it won't allow female players a cut of a $29.5 million adjustment ledger.
The accusation written in a letter from CA's chief memorandum of understanding negotiator Kevin Roberts to ACA boss Alastair Nicholson and printed in The Daily Telegraph, drew a fierce response from the ACA.
They were less than impressed with the notion they were trying to short-change women's cricket and made it clear that any gender inequality in Australian cricket was in their opinion the fault of CA.
"In CA's view, the specific reasons why this decision was made in 2012 are less important than the precedent it set and the clear principle it established -- namely that players may benefit from funds accumulated in the adjustment ledger in a previous MOU period, regardless of whether or not they played or were eligible at the time the funds were generated," Roberts wrote.
"For example, all males who played in 2012-17, including players who did not actually play first-class cricket in 2011-12, benefited from the $16.8m funds carried forward to the current MOU from 2011-12. But if the ACA's position is understood correctly, and none of the 2012-17 adjustment ledger is to be carried over into the next MOU, then male players in the current period will be entitled to receive not only the entire 2011-12 adjustment ledger, but also the entire 2012-17 ledger.
"In stark contrast, players who enter first-class cricket for the first time during 2017-22 will be ineligible for any benefit from the current adjustment ledger. Even more unfairly, the ACA's position means that all female players, even those who have been in the system throughout both MOU periods covering 2011-17 will be denied any share of the $58.5m in the current adjustment ledger.
"Given the obvious anomalies that arise from the ACA's position on this matter, CA is seeking confirmation that this remains your position.
"In particular, CA seeks your confirmation that no female players will be entitled to share in the projected $58.5m from the 2012-17 adjustment ledger."
The ACA slammed the letter, telling News Corp Australia that they felt the argument was "devious" before taking a shot at CA management.
"CA are trying to change an existing agreement they are a party to in order to rectify gender inequality of their own making," an ACA spokesperson said.
"It's not OK to do this and the men and women players see through it.
"Especially in the context of an executive group which currently pays itself more than every single female player in the country combined. Poor form."
The current pay deal expires on June 20.
