Players Agree Emergency Contract Measures

The PCA has agreed to adjust elements of the County Partnership Agreement for 2020-2021 with the ECB and the first-class counties with the aim to protect as many jobs for members as possible for 2021 and beyond.

Due to the ongoing financial situation within the domestic game and the vast amount of players who are out of contract at the end of the current season, the PCA Players’ Committee has been consulted and subsequently signed off a deal to support the game and fellow players.

The emergency contract measures, which are in place immediately, mean elements of the 2020-2024 CPA have been amended to allow more flexibility for counties to retain players who are due to leave the game at the end of this summer.

These adjustments will be for 2020-2021 only and any contracts currently signed must be honoured under the previously agreed salary and terms.

The PCA have considered proposals for playing non-contracted players in First XI cricket for the remainder of the 2020 season.

The existing agreements allow for a county to engage on a pro-rata basis with a player on either a Rookie or Full Contract. The PCA have agreed to immediately implement the revised new Rookie Contract rates due to be effective from 1 November 2020 for August and September 2020.

The PCA has secured appearance points for the Bob Willis Trophy to provide further opportunities for players who are currently on Rookie Contracts to be transitioned onto Full Contracts. Players will receive two points per Bob Willis Trophy and Vitality Blast appearance with 20 points required to trigger the uplift in contract.

Players who are out of contract on 31 October 2020 and who are only eligible for a Full Contract for 2021 onwards may be offered one of the following options for 2020-2021 only;

• A 12-month contract at 100% of the revised Full Contract minimum salary of £24,000
or
• A Summer Contract for eight months from March-October or seven months from April-October at the appropriate proportion of the current agreed Full Contract annual minimum salary of £27,500.

The PCA has carefully considered proposals for part-year contracts to aid retention of players who have had limited opportunities in 2020. Although traditionally opposed to counties moving players from 12-month contracts to shortened versions we recognise the need for flexibility in 2021.

​Accordingly, the PCA will support counties offering a new Summer Contract for 2021 to a player currently on a 12-month Full Contract due to expire 31 October 2020. Counties must use the current agreed Full Contract annual minimum salary of £27,500 and the pro-rata percentage mechanism to calculate salaries for these players.

Players who are on a Rookie Contract that is due to expire on 31 October 2020 and who are not eligible for a Rookie Contract for 2021 due to the age limitations will be allowed to sign a Rookie Contract for 2021 only.

The Rookie minimum salaries for those who are currently not contracted or whose current Rookie contract expires on the 31 October 2020 can be offered at a reduced rate, starting at £16,000 for an 18-year-old.

Players who are currently registered with an Academy and are in their final year will be eligible for a one-year extension from 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021. For clarity this option is only available for players already on the Academy in the 2019-2020 period.

PCA Chairman, Daryl Mitchell, said:

“These actions have been taken given we were faced with 134 players out of contract as ‘pre-season’ began in July and the uncertain financial future of the game. Although many of these players have now been awarded new deals or moved counties, we need to be flexible and do everything to protect jobs for our members.

“Throughout this crisis we have worked collaboratively with the first-class counties and the ECB to represent player views and the continued engagement and cooperation of the PCA reps and the wider playing group has been vital.

“I understand these measures are not ideal but given the situation presented to us by the ECB and the first-class counties, they are necessary to maintain as many members in employment as possible in 2021 and to enable them to continue their careers beyond.

“It is important for us as players to understand the gravity of the challenge the game now faces and act as responsible stakeholder in the game as we move forward together. The next set of talks with the counties and the ECB will happen following the ECB’s emergency budget in mid-September.”