Cricket Ireland announce player contract changes

Player contracts will now run from March 1 to February 28 each year, as opposed to the current calendar year cycle

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Cricket Ireland have announced that a new player contracts process will be introduced from 2021.

At a board meeting yesterday, it was decided that player contracts will now run from March 1 to February 28 each year, as opposed to the current calendar year cycle.

Their chief executive, Warren Deutrom, explained: "The main reason for introducing this change is that current contract offers are being agreed outside of the organisational budgeting process, meaning we are committing to a cost independent of the board-approved budget for the following year.”

“In order to phase in the new policy in 2021, in consultation with the Irish Cricketers’ Association, we will honour all existing contracts until their natural end date on 31 December. Then, for each player receiving a new contract in 2021, we will extend their current deal until the end of February to bridge the gap before the new contract begins on 1 March.

"This applies to all categories of central contracts within the men’s and women’s game. We will shortly be meeting with the players to offer contracts for 2021,” he added.

At this stage it is unclear when Ireland will play fixtures that were postponed in 2020. They were due to host New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh this year.

Deutrom added: "The knock-on effect for us of losing the best part of 2020’s international programme is the need to be flexible about timing of fixtures, the quantity scheduled, and the formats played – at the same time as respecting the commercial arrangements we have in place. Given these new parameters, it looks likely that some fixtures that were to be played in 2020 may be pushed into 2022 or even 2023.

“What is definite is that Irish cricket fans will have plenty of international matches to enjoy in coming years.”

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