Cricket Australia has "called off pay talks" with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, accusing the players’ union of "failing to negotiate in good faith," according to the AAP. The two parties are negotiating a new memorandum of understanding "but talks have soured after the ACA raised concerns about issues relating to female players, including a controversial pregnancy clause." Further informal discussions "were due to be held this week" but Cricket Australia postponed talks until the new year. A CA spokesperson said, "Cricket Australia is committed to a negotiation that is conducted in good faith between the two parties, but will not take part in a process which seeks to draw its players into a public dispute." An ACA submission sent to players last week highlighted several “outdated at best and rather condescending” issues relating to female cricketers, including a "widely criticised clause asking them to declare they are not pregnant before they sign a contract." CA CEO James Sutherland last week "fired back at critics, saying the issue had been misrepresented and put players in a difficult position" (AAP, 12/19).
