Cricket Australia warns of six-month ban for playing unsanctioned matches

Sydney: Cricket Australia's (CA) team performance manager Pat Howard has written a strongly worded email, warning all international and national cricketers of a six-month suspension if found playing in any exhibition matches.

The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has been involved in a bitter conflict with the national cricket board over the terms of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed by the cricketers. 

The current MoU expires on June 30 and this conflict may lead to Australia fielding depleted teams for the upcoming tours of Bangladesh and India and even the home Ashes series.

"Players (including uncontracted players) cannot play in ICC approved cricket (e.g. domestic T20 competitions operated by overseas cricket boards) without approval from Cricket Australia," Howard wrote. 

"Players who participate in disapproved cricket (e.g. exhibition matches) are not permitted to participate in ICC approved cricket for a minimum of six months thereafter.

"If your contract expires on June 30, you will not be an employee of CA, a State Association or a W/BBL Team from July 1," the email further read.

"This means that you are not required to play, train, perform player appearances or media commitments, and you will not be paid a retainer until such time as a MoU is agreed and a player contract is agreed with you in writing".

The main cause of this conflict is the fixed revenue sharing model that has been at the centre of all the agreements of the players in the past 20 years. 

The CA wants to scrap this provision for state and women cricketers and only wants to give international male cricketers a share of the pie because most of the revenue is generated by international cricket played by men. 

But the ACA is firm that the provision should be a part of the MoU with elite international cricketers like Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc going on record to criticise the board.