Shane Watson warns Cricket Australia of legal advancement if barred to play in overseas leagues

Even after many meetings, the issues regarding pay dispute between the Australia cricketers and Cricket Australia (CA) still persists. The players have demanded a reformed contract with their existing share from CA earnings kept intact, which the board has yet not approved of. If things continue to be in the same line, around 230 Australia cricketers will become free agents. However, to play in leagues such as Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Global T20 league in South Africa and Caribbean Premier League (CPL), they will need No Objection Certificate (NOC). Former cricketer Shane Watson, who is on Big Bash League (BBL) contract, warned CA of legal steps to be taken by Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) if the players are not given NOC as a consequence of disagreement with the board. READ: Cricket Australia’s dispute likely to be resolved by June 30

“If Cricket Australia knock back an NOC that’s a significant restraint of trade as well. In the end I’ve got a Big Bash contract. Of course, I’ve got to get an NOC signed. For them to restrict my potential to be able to actually play and be employed somewhere else, there would be some pretty serious legal issues there,” Watson, who is also an executive member of ACA, said to The Guardian on Monday, during ACA’s golf day.

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“It bewilders me how someone who knows the ins and outs of MOU negotiations hasnt been involved” – Watson calls for CEO talks #fairshare pic.twitter.com/qw1WcG1BMJ

— Aust Cricketers Assn (@ACA_Players) June 27, 2017

The former all-rounder also mentioned it is CA who will be in trouble if the players make themselves unavailable before The Ashes.

“Because in the end, everyone wants the best players playing all the time for Australia … especially in the lead-up to the Ashes series. The dream of any Australian cricketer is to play in that series. If the lead-up doesn’t go to plan because the players aren’t able to play high-quality cricket, we certainly don’t want to give the English an upper hand. The players certainly don’t want that and I’m sure Cricket Australia don’t want that either, but where things are at at the moment is not great,” he concluded.

Shane Watson warns Cricket Australia of legal advancement if barred to play in overseas leagues