ICU looks for financial solution

Irish cricket remains in a “vicious circle” as it tries to provide competitive financial reward for its international players.

The issue came to a head this weekend when opener Jeremy Bray made himself unavailable for high-profile back-to-back matches against India and South Africa in Belfast.

The Australian-born left-hander, one of the stars of Ireland’s surprisingly successful World Cup campaign, later remarked that it “costs him money” to play for his adopted country. Reacting to that and Bray’s description of the Irish Cricket Union’s attempts to usher in a professional era as a “joke”, the governing body have voiced their own frustrations at the problems they face.

ICU chief executive Warren Deutrom said: “The fundamental issue is that we can’t complete and finalise the contracts for the players until we know we are able to satisfy what they are requesting in terms of additional monies.

“We can’t do that until we know how much of a budget we have, and we won’t know that until this current series of games is completed. It’s a vicious circle.”

Deutrom makes it clear the ICU recognise the players’ concerns – and want to reward their cricketers as fairly as they can, inevitably from limited funds. “Do we want to be able to pay the players? Absolutely, of course we do – it’s the fundamental route to success,” he points out.

“I know there’s a significant degree of frustration among the players, and I completely understand that.

“We have met with the players on a number of occasions, and will continue to do so. We’re keeping the communications lines to them open at all stages.”

The ICU are grateful for the understanding shown by many players.

“We’ve managed to get many of their issues and concerns out into the open,” Deutrom added.

“A lot of the players are prepared to be patient until they know of the final financial result. Obviously we’re trying to do our very best.”