Published: Jun 18, 2017, 05:50 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 18, 2017, 05:50 PM (IST)
David Warner fears the pay dispute between players and Cricket Australia (CA) may jeopardise the upcoming Bangladesh tour and Ashes 2017-18. Australia‘s vice-captain, talking exclusively in an interview, stated that the national side stands unemployed from July 1 and is worried about the revenue-share issue ahead of their forthcoming tour to the subcontinent. Australian players want equal share in the revenue model and some takings for female and domestic players.
“Well from July 1 – we’re unemployed. We’ve been threatened with that. We’re hopeful there’s going to be an agreement done – it’s a sticky situation. From our point of view I want to play for Australia and so do the other boys. But if there’s nothing that’s put in place for what we’re trying to achieve here, from both point of views, we’re not going to tour Bangladesh, there might not be an Ashes if we don’t have an MOU. We want to keep playing cricket for Australia, that’s our goal. If there’s no cricket in summer, what are we going to do?”, Warner was quoted as saying in an interview by Channel Nine.
“We’re going to be locked out. Where do we train? They can lock us out from all the different training facilities. It’s going to be disappointing if it comes to that (because) we want to keep playing for Australia. But if we don’t have the MOU done, it’s going to be hard for us to walk on that plane come Bangladesh”, stated Steven Smith’s deputy.
“We’re prepared as players to give a little bit more in that revenue share. But that’s what we want. We’re not going to budge from the revenue sharing model, we want equality, and a fair share for domestic and female players. That in a nutshell is what it’s all about. We want to make sure the female players and domestic players are in this revenue share model. In the decades that have gone past, the past players that have been in our situation have stood up for us. I was a domestic player, I was a young kid coming through, we’re doing the same as what they did as well” opined Warner.
Warner has been more vocal on the entire pay row whereas Smith has taken a back seat. “From where I stand and the position I take on this, I try to take as much heat off (Smith) as possible. He does lead us on the field, and rightfully so off the field as well, he does a great job. In this circumstance I’m willing to go out there into bat for everyone. Yeah sometimes he could probably push a little bit more, but I think he’s doing a great job, as well as the other players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood as well”, concluded the left-hander.
