Cricket Australia "questioned whether it will continue to provide direct funding of the players association, as tensions grow between the parties," according to Jon Pierik of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. While CA's bid to end the set percentage of revenue given to players has "dominated headlines in what has become an ugly battle over pay and conditions," it has also emerged CA is "considering a revamp of how the Australian Cricketers Association is funded." In its memorandum of understanding submission presented to the ACA, CA said that it provides A$4.1M ($3M) from within the player payment pool, and "a further $4.3 million from outside the PPP, which is paid directly by CA to the ACA." The A$4.3M ($3.1M) is spread over five years. The ACA "cedes its hold on certain commercial elements," such as the rights to the players' intellectual property, in exchange for that funding. Players were "keen to find out this week" why CA would want to change this policy but their bid for answers "will have to wait until negotiations resume, most likely in the new year." Discussions were due to be held on Monday and Tuesday but "were scrapped within minutes of the parties getting together when an agitated CA refused to deal with the ACA," suggesting the players had not been negotiating in "good faith." Industry insiders believe that "a more hardline CA, after 15 years of largely friendly relations, is keen to minimise the role the ACA has on matters of finance" but CA said that it "continues to respect the players' union." Players are "concerned" about CA's plans to only allow int'l male players to continue to share in the percentage model adopted in '97, with state players now to be given a set amount. CA claimed state men's retainers have "grown" by 50% in the past four years, with overall average payments, including match fees, of A$234,000 ($168,700) for domestic men in '16-17 (SMH, 12/22).
