The Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) has taken a firm stance, advising professional cricketers not to sign contracts for next season's The Hundred tournament. This dramatic move comes amid an escalating dispute with the competition's new franchise owners over controversial terms in proposed multi-year deals.
The Core of the Dispute
At the heart of the conflict is a new direct-signing process, a supplementary measure to the IPL-style auction scheduled for next year. Under this system, each of the eight Hundred teams is permitted to make four direct signings. This quota includes one player from their existing squad and three others, who can be either overseas stars or players holding an England central contract.
While the direct-signing window opened last week, the players' union has instructed its members to hold off. The Guardian has learned that the standoff centres on the three-year contracts being offered. The new franchise owners, four of whom also own Indian Premier League teams, have included a unilateral 12-month release clause in these deals. The PCA is vigorously contesting this condition, arguing it offers players no long-term security.
Player Security and Market Value Concerns
This contractual model poses two significant risks for players. Firstly, a franchise could terminate a player's three-year deal after just 12 months, leaving them without expected income. Secondly, and perhaps more insidiously, a player could be locked into the same salary for three years even if they have a stellar first season, preventing them from capitalising on their increased market value.
This is not a hypothetical scenario. England captain Jos Buttler found himself in a similar situation early in his IPL career. Following his international breakthrough, he was retained for three years by Mumbai Indians on a relatively modest salary of £385,000, unable to negotiate a higher wage that reflected his new status.
Such three-year deals with a 12-month release option are standard practice in India, where there is no representative body for current professional players. The Board of Control for Cricket in India only recognises the Indian Cricketers' Association, whose membership is restricted to former players.
Delayed Signings and Search for a Solution
The PCA has been shown draft versions of the contracts but has refused to sign them off, leading to a direct impact on team-building. The standoff has already caused delays in player signings, with individuals refusing to put pen to paper under the current terms.
This disagreement has also disrupted the tournament's timeline. The Hundred owners had hoped to finalise player contracts before new salary bands were announced last month. The overall budget for each men's team has increased to £2.05 million, while the women's competition budget has risen to £880,000 per franchise.
Negotiations are ongoing between the franchises and the PCA to find a resolution. One potential compromise being discussed is the inclusion of performance-based pay escalators in contracts. This would act as a trade-off for players accepting the release clauses, ensuring their earnings could rise in line with their on-field success.
The direct-signing window is scheduled to close at the end of January, ahead of the inaugural Hundred auction next March, which will replace the previous draft system. The PCA has declined to comment publicly on the ongoing negotiations.
