Australia's cricketers have been "boosted in their pay war with Cricket Australia" by the injection of millions of dollars in "loans" from "several wealthy backers that will ensure their hardship fund lasts until Christmas," according to Chris Barrett of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. With players "due to be out of pocket for the first time when their monthly pay does not land in bank accounts" on July 15, the Australian Cricketers' Association will begin to "dip into a pool of money set aside to support them." That fund has reportedly been "significantly enhanced in size by financial assistance from several backers that runs into the millions." Sources said that the cash injections have come from "several high net-worth individuals, some from the business world and with links to cricket and others who have a general love of the game, but who want to remain anonymous." The identities of those who have come forward to supplement the ACA's funds to pay unemployed players are "not known by many at the players' union itself." The millions in additional cash now at the ACA's disposal is a "major development" as it will reportedly enable the organization to "finance the union's hardship fund until December if required." It is believed the ACA "intends to pay the mystery financial supporters back after a new deal is agreed." However, that would depend on CA agreeing to provide back pay to players to cover their period of unemployment under the terms of a new MOU. The governing body "declared it will not do that." CA's position on back pay is "another hugely contentious area of the deeply troubled negotiations." The ACA is "unlikely to agree to a new MOU unless players are backpaid from July 1" (SMH, 7/10).
NO PANIC: In Hong Kong, Nazvi Careem reported Hong Kong Sixes organizers are "refusing to panic" over the payment dispute between CA and its top players that "may affect the team's participation in the revived tournament in October." Cricket Hong Kong Marketing & Commercial Dir Max Abbott said that the body was "hoping the two parties could sort out their differences" before the Oct. 28-29 tournament at Kowloon Cricket Club (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 7/10).
