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Cricket
By Our Special Correspondent
After a series of dialogues arising out of the image rights issue with the ICC the ACB and ACA worked out modalities to `the satisfaction of both parties' on how to deal with ICC in the future. The ACB CEO Mr. James Sutherland has said: "Based on my discussions with the ICC, I expect that the ICC Executive Board's approval on this final matter will be a mere formality.'' But the Australian players, who will be playing in a tri-series in Kenya shortly, have agreed to sign the `Players Terms' only if the ICC formally agrees to consult with players before concluding commercial arrangements for ICC events other than those that have already been sold. The ACA Chief Executive Tim May has said that the template will provide solutions that can be used by all countries to end their dispute with their players.'' Following the resolutions between ACB and ACA the ICC's Executive Board will discuss on matters such as: Pre-existing obligations of players that conflict with ICC sponsors and defining parameters for the use of player image. In the case of overseas players, the guideline recommends a model for compensation to players who are forced to give up personal endorsements. According to reports the ICC has told the ACB that, "This is an excellent example of the effective working relationship the ACB has with its player representative body." The ACB Chief has said that resolutions agreed upon by it and the ACB was based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between the ACB and ACA in May 2001. In his report to the ACB members Mr. Malcolm Speed who was the CEO of the ACB then had said that the `Australian cricketers are able to share cricket's success. The new agreement ensures that Australian cricketers are the highest-paid players in the world. This is a significant milestone and makes cricket a very attractive option for talented young athletes making career choices about professional sport. In May 2001 the ACB decided to distribute $23 million to the six State Associations and formalised an agreement with the ACA for the `good of the game' and to make it a `key foundation' to build the continued success of Australian cricket. "The four-year agreement is a watershed in the history of Australian,'' said Mr. Speed. The MOU between the ACB and ACA also included `family assistance package for Australian players', introduction of a retirement benefit account for state and ACB contracted players, continued funding of the career and welfare program and significant protection for Australian cricket's interests through the negotiated limitations on player and ACA commercial activities and revised provisions for players playing overseas. According to Mr. Brendon McClements, who is the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, ICC, the Australian players (ACB contracted and state players) receive 25 per cent of the gross revenue the ACB receives, 73 per cent of which is generated through `Media rights and sponsorship'. In 2001 the ACB disbursed A $18.3 million for players and umpires, A $23 million to the six State Associations. Out of A $23 million, 35 per cent was spent on paying to the State players to ensure continued viability of Australia's domestic first-class and one-day competitions. The Australian Cricket Revenue (ACR) forms the basis on which player payments are calculated. The ACR for 2000-01 was close to A $78.9 million. The player payments system worked out between the ACB and ACA was that the players would get 20 per cent of ACR up to $60 million and 25 per cent for every additional Australian dollar earned. According to the MOU the player payments pool (PPP) is divided between ACB contracted players (55 per cent) and state contracted players (45 per cent) and that players receive their payments out of the PPP based on earnings entitlements split between retainers, match fees, tour payments, superannuation, retirement funds and prize-money. The contracted players are paid on a base retainer, which is levelled according to a player ranking system. Each player also receives match fees, tour fees and prize money for on-field success. Under a formula agreed upon by the ACA and ACB the retainer offered to the lowest ranked contracted player in 2002-03 was A $110,000. For the highest ranked player it was A $440,000. The England & Wales Cricket Board may consider the ACB pattern, where players receive up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the gross earnings of the year. The ECB's Cricket Forum has agreed to start a `Central Contracts' system before the Ashes series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not have a retainer system for those who play for India, but has over the years introduced schemes for player welfare. The BCCI shares the team sponsorship income on a 60: 40 ratio, but distributes the money received from television rights (It receives close to Rs. 50 crore for 27 days of international cricket at home from Doordarshan) to the States taking part in the Ranji Trophy, but the BCCI knows which association actually spends money for development. The Australians get a share of the media rights money, too. According to a source, the Australian cricketers are likely to get A $ 4 million from the guarantee money of a $14 million the ACB will receive from the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC World Cup. Will the BCCI pay percentage of the participation money it will receive from these two events with the players? The ICC has said that a sum of US $8. 8 million will be given to the Boards and players for taking part in the two events. The Executive Board of the ICC is likely to discuss this point at its meeting in Dubai. An ICC source also said that the sponsors of the two events might not be allowed to have free use of all the images of the Champions Trophy. "The sponsors will have to get ICC's approval before the images of the event are used for advertising or promotional activity for a period of six months. Secondly the sponsors cannot demand personal endorsements.'' The Australian model for coaching has been followed in India and England with Rodney Marsh in-charge of England's cricket academy. He is still connected with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. It looks as though the Australian way of sharing money raised by cricket might be discussed at the meeting in Dubai. Will the BCCI agree to it?
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