Captain Steve Smith challenges Cricket Australia’s argument on pay dispute
Australia captain Steve Smith on Thursday challenged Cricket Australia’s (CA) arguments with regards to the ongoing pay dispute, stating that players have always chipped in with significant contributions to help the grassroots programmes. CA had said that they needed more money to fund the game at the grassroots and hence cannot increase the players’ salaries.
Smith, however, said: “I’m not sure I completely agree with that. If we look back at the last MoU, I think players gave back A$10 million to grassroots cricket, which is quite significant. We are right behind (the CA) and what they are trying to do for the players and as partners of the game as well. We fully support them in everything they are doing,” he added on the eve of their opening match at the Champions Trophy.
Smith said his team is focussed on the tournament and they have left it to the Australian Cricket Association to handle the pay dispute. “The guys have been great. We know that the ACA’s (Australian Cricketers’ Association) handling everything back home. And for us, our focus is on this tournament, and it needs to be, because we’re coming up against some good opposition,” he said.
“It’s a very cut-throat …read more
