England's leading cricketers "could be set to receive a significant pay rise" once the England & Wales Cricket Board's new TV deal kicks in from '20, according to Tim Wigmore of the London INDEPENDENT. The Professional Cricketers' Association "advocates an increase in the value of central contracts, but already faces staunch opposition from counties," which are "angry and divided over its support to increase the salary cap in county cricket." The PCA "expects the salary cap to rise and will enter discussions with the ECB about the matter over the coming months." The organization also anticipates that central contracts -- currently worth about £1M ($1.3M) a year for leading players in all three formats -- will "increase to reflect the additional revenue that England's leading cricketers have secured for the governing body." The new broadcasting contract, worth £1.1B ($1.43B) from '20-24 -- a rise of "almost three times on the annual value of the current deal" -- opened up the "possibility of counties being allowed to spend more." For most counties, annual incomes and levels of debt are such that the current salary cap -- £2M ($2.61M) per season, "with London weighting" -- is "significantly above their spending on players." Surrey County Cricket Club CEO Richard Gould said, "It is important that players receive an equitable share of the money that cricket generates, whether that be from TV rights, sponsorship or ticket sales." The view is "not widely shared among the poorer counties." One county CEO said, "I don't want it to increase as I believe there is plenty of slack in the system with only one or two at the cap already" (INDEPENDENT, 7/17).
