PCA Committee confirms Heads of Agreement for CPA

The Professional Cricketers’ Association Committee has today, Friday 28 June, voted in favour of a Heads of Agreement for the County Partnership Agreement (CPA).

PCA representatives from all 18 first-class counties and the England women’s squad who form the PCA Committee voted unanimously to approve the recommended deal following a meeting in Birmingham led by PCA Chairman Daryl Mitchell and Chief Executive David Leatherdale.

Today’s agreement of a five year partnership between the PCA, the ECB and first-class counties is the culmination of 18-months of detailed negotiation.

The 2020-2024 CPA will create material improvements for professional cricketers in England and Wales. Twelve months ago the PCA outlined four non-negotiable principles that had to be attained through the CPA negotiations:

With players consulted via PCA reps during the past 18-months, information was presented at 2019 pre-season meetings with a recommended deal distributed to all players earlier this week to outline the proposed principles.

PCA Chairman, Daryl Mitchell, said:

“Today is a big moment for every current and future professional cricketer in this country. This has been a long and testing process but ultimately a very rewarding outcome.

“I made a bold statement just over a year ago that we needed to ensure every player benefits from the CPA and after constant dialogue and deliberation between stakeholders and over 70 formal meetings, I am delighted we have achieved this.

“The new retirement pot will bring a country-wide benefit to all players who will be supported through extra funding to help with their transition into a second career. David has fought particularly hard for the implementation of this and with it now agreed, the PCA Committee will decide a distribution model for the estimated £5 million that counties will contribute over the five-year period.

“This is the first time the PCA has been involved in such a negotiation and through regular dialogue with players across the country we knew what areas needed improving and we had to make counties more accountable for looking after players.

“This deal will not only see players directly rewarded but with future funding for the PCA in place and substantial donations to be made to the Professional Cricketers’ Trust for the first time, the welfare of players will be protected. Through a collaborative approach, we have also secured the PCA’s place as a key decision maker in the future of the professional game of cricket in England and Wales.

“There is still a lot of work to be done but I can confidently say there has never been a better time to be a professional cricketer and the new deal will make sure that is the case.”

PCA Chief Executive, David Leatherdale, said:

“The game of cricket is entering a new and exciting phase for cricketers in England and Wales. The new broadcast money coming into the sport from 2020 is going to make huge contributions throughout the game so we are thankful to Sky and the BBC for their continued commitment.

“This collective agreement is a first for the PCA and we had to ensure players are at the front and centre of the ECB’s and the counties considerations so they are not only financially rewarded but treated with the respect they deserve.

“This historic deal creates a reinvigorated approach to playing cricket professionally which will see players rewarded through their careers like never before.

“Young players coming into the game will have the best ever chance to be successful with minimum guarantees while improved policies around welfare issues as well as the rise in salary caps and collars will benefit all. We know the first two years after retirement is an incredibly difficult time so the new retirement pot will bridge a gap to help the transition into a second career.

“There has been strong pushback on a number of these areas but through a collaborative approach, the PCA Committee is delighted at the agreement which will see every single professional player thrive over the next five years and beyond.

“One of the most exciting successes is the PCA gaining 100 extra members through the women’s game.  The players who participate in the eight new ‘Hundred’ teams will be represented by the PCA as the women’s game continues to evolve in the professional era.

“In terms of the England men’s and women’s deals which have been negotiated alongside the CPA through the Team England Player Partnership and England Women’s Player Partnership, these deals are also close to being agreed which will ensure representing your country has never been more rewarding.”