Uncertainty around 'new cricket world'

Amid confirmation from player agents that Australian cricketers are firmly in the sights of overseas T20 competition organisers should they fall out of contract, the players' union has claimed the ongoing pay dispute presents an "open invitation" to lure the nation's top players away from the game on home soil.

The stand-off between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association remains unresolved, with negotiations yet to formally begin on a new Memorandum of Understanding that is scheduled to come into effect from July 1.

Earlier this month, CA Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland wrote to his ACA counterpart Alistair Nicholson to advise that, should a new MOU not be agreed upon, "CA is not contemplating alternative contracting arrangements to pay players beyond 30 June if their contracts have expired".

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That would mean men's international and domestic players who do not hold multi-year contracts with state associations or Big Bash League franchises would effectively become unemployed on July 1, a scenario that has excited interest among scouts for the growing number of domestic T20 franchise competitions worldwide.

Several player agents contacted by cricket.com.au today indicated there had been a significant spike in enquiries about the potential availability of top Australia men's players from people involved with Cricket South Africa's embryonic #T20 Global Destination League, which is scheduled to run from early November until December 16.

The same time the first three Ashes Tests will be played in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

Agents also reported some contact from franchises in the England and Wales Cricket Board's domestic T20 competition, although its impending start date of July 7 means all but a handful of the 18 competing outfits have already finalised their player roster for the 2017 season.

In a statement released today, Nicholson said the move by CA to take a hard line and not issue interim contracts or roll-over the current MOU should agreement not be reached by June 30 made the likelihood of counter offers from international bodies inevitable.

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"To threaten Australia's cricketers shows an apparent lack of appreciation of international circumstances," Nicholson said.

"Times have changed. The commercial reality of the international cricket world is that our cricketers are in high demand for more money all over the world.

"CA forcing them into unemployment is an open invitation to the international cricket world.

"It's a dangerous mistake and one that is completely unnecessary.

"Australian cricketers, men and women both, want to play in Australia, for Australia and for their States and T20 teams.

"(But) when you threaten them with unemployment you place them squarely in the sights of the new cricket world."

However, it remains unclear just how readily Australia's top-ranked players could make the switch to 'global T20 gun for hire' should an agreement not be reached and existing contractual arrangements lapse.

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Under the International Cricket Council's Operating Manual, dated November 2014 and posted on the ACA's website, there exist stringent conditions that requires any current player to be issued with a No Objection Certificate from the administrative body under which they last played representative (international) cricket before they are able to take part in domestic competitions played overseas.

According to the ICC, that administrative body has the right to withhold a No Objection Certificate if a player's participation in a domestic event such as the South African T20 competition "will in any way compromise the ability of the Foreign Player to comply with any contractual obligations owed by that player, including such obligations to the Relevant Member".

In this case, that relevant member is CA and as a result, that may carry implications for players who hold multi-year state or BBL contracts, even if they are no longer centrally contracted.

The ICC regulations extend further and stipulate that No Objection Certificates are also required by players for up to two years after they announce their retirement from international cricket, which was implemented as a measure to prevent players walking away from the international game to pursue a career in domestic competitions.

"The ICC and its Members recognise the overriding importance of international cricket as the lifeblood of the sport around the world," section 32A.4 of the operating manual states.

"International cricket therefore has primacy over domestic cricket.

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"Accordingly, it must be a condition of participation in a domestic match/event that all participating players from overseas hold valid No-Objection Certificates for the match or event as issued by their respective Members (administrative bodies)."

South Africa's #T20 Global Destination League is the latest domestic Twenty20 competition to actively seek out the best available global men's talent to lift its profile and appeal among fans, sponsors and broadcasters.

Other similar 'domestic' T20 competitions to field numerous overseas players include the recently concluded Indian Premier League, the soon-to-resume Caribbean Premier League, the Pakistan Super League, the UK's T20 tournament and the KFC Big Bash in Australia.

While Cricket South Africa is yet to announce the successful bidders for ownership of the eight franchises (submissions closed at the end of last month), it has drawn huge interest from the world's most influential cricket marketplace, with India providing 35 per cent of the expressions of interest received from potential owners.

As well as established T20 franchise players Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Kevin Pietersen, Lasith Malinga and Brendon McCullum, the #T20 Global Destination League has already attracted current England ODI and T20 captain Eoin Morgan and his limited-overs teammate, Jason Roy.

They will play alongside star South Africa players such as AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, David Miller and Kagiso Rabada who will each be allocated to a franchise in the new competition.