Ireland Cricketers Secure Pay Raise in New Contract Agreement

Ireland's cricketers have secured a significant pay raise after Cricket Ireland (CI) and the Irish Cricketers' Association (ICA) reached an agreement on the terms of central contracts. The deal comes after a period of uncertainty, with players initially rejecting an offer from the board and facing the prospect of playing in the upcoming T20 World Cup on expired contracts.

The new contracts, which will be issued immediately, will apply until the end of February 2025. CI chief executive Warren Deutrom confirmed that players have received a substantial pay increase. He emphasized that the board has always prioritized rewarding senior men's and women's players for their contributions to the growth of cricket in Ireland.

Deutrom stated that the players have received the largest share of the new funding allocated to Irish cricket this year. He believes that this is appropriate, as it recognizes the players' hard work and success. However, he also stressed the importance of balancing player compensation with the need to fund other aspects of the sport, such as grassroots development and provincial cricket.

Despite the delay in finalizing the contracts, Deutrom emphasized that relations between CI and the ICA remain strong. He attributed the delay to the late approval of the budget and the complexity of the new contract model. However, he praised the positive and collaborative approach taken by both parties in reaching an agreement.

Cecelia Joyce, the ICA president, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiations. She highlighted the unity among the players throughout the process and emphasized the significance of the agreement for professional cricketers in Ireland. She believes it will provide greater transparency and clarity regarding player compensation and contracting structures.

CI has not yet announced the list of contracted players for the 2024-25 season. However, further details about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and contracts are expected to be released in due course.

Tags: #CricketIreland, #IrishCricketersAssociation, #CentralContracts, #PayRaise, #T20WorldCup