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More than 14 months after signing a peace deal to end the pay dispute, Cricket Australia (CA) and the players’ union are now at loggerheads over bans resulting from the Cape Town cheating scandal.
Monday’s independent report, commissioned after the ball-tampering furore, highlighted CA’s “arrogant” culture and noted “responsibility for that larger picture lies with CA and not just the players held directly responsible for the appalling incident at Newlands”.
It has led to renewed debate about whether the length and/or terms of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft’s suspensions should be adjusted.
Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) president Greg Dyer, perhaps the most vocal and consistent critic of the bans, said in a statement that “independently verified contributing factors must now be taken into consideration and the penalties reduced”.
CA chairman David Peever had already rejected that notion, noting “the sanctions were imposed by the board after a very full and thoughtful process and so the sanctions stand, as I said several weeks ago.”
Dyer, who remarked earlier this year that “justice which is rushed can sometimes be flawed”, and ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson are expected to make a case for the bans to be softened during a press conference on Tuesday.
The review’s most urgent recommendation was for CA and the ACA to establish a constructive working relationship within 30 days.
Last year’s bitter pay talks have left a series of scars, according to The Ethics Centre report.
“Negotiations between cricket’s stakeholders were described by many as being ‘aggressive’,” the report said.
“A frequently cited example was that of the most recent negotiations between CA and ACA.
“People variously described the actions of both parties as being arrogant and aggressive, contributing to a toxic management and playing environment in which money is valued above fair play, and aggression wins the day.
Australia captain Tim Paine suggested CA chief executive Kevin Roberts and Nicholson had been working “‘really hard” on mending bridges for the betterment of the game.
“There’s no doubt there was a period during the pay dispute, where things got a little bit uglier than what they should have,” Paine said.
“But both sides have admitted to some fault there and both sides are committed to moving on and having a better relationship.”
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