Tim Paine says Australian players willing for pay cut to help the game survive

Cricket Australia has delayed the announcement of new central contracts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With Cricket Australia (CA) postponing the announcement of next round of central contracts amid the COVID-19 outbreak, players down under are expected to endure major pay cut from their salaries to "do their bit" in making up for the losses that the game is suffering. 

However, Test skipper Tim Paine said that will be a "small" sacrifice given the situation and players are absolutely willing to make their contribution for the wider good of the sport and society.  

Read Also: Root expects discussions with ECB on pay cut; foresees possible no-cricket summer 

"Certainly discussions will start happening in the next week or so,” Paine was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. "Certainly if things happen similar to what’s happened to football and other sports, then we’ve certainly got to do our bit to make sure the game survives and remains really healthy for years to come."

All immediate international, domestic fixtures have been already suspended but even foreseeable ones are under threat, which will have significant financial implications. 

“If it comes to that, I’m sure that’s something that the players will look at. But there are bigger issues going on around the world at the moment than how much our sportsmen are going to get paid. That’ll be a small thing to us if that was to happen," Paine added. 

The captain also doesn't expect Australia's two mid-year World Test Championship fixtures in Bangladesh to be played on time amid this crisis. 

"You don’t have to be Einstein to realise (the Bangladesh tour) is probably unlikely to go ahead, particularly in June. Whether it’s cancelled or pushed back, we’re not quite sure at the moment," Paine said.

“Some series have been cancelled and whether ones going forward are going to be continually cancelled or we’re going to postpone them (is uncertain) but it’s a couple of Test matches and if at the end of the day we have to miss them, then so be it."

Not just the Bangladesh tour, the whole of the remaining Test championship cycle might be rescheduled given the gravity of the pandemic. The nine-team league is at the half-way mark, with teams competing for a spot in the marquee final at Lord's in June 2021. 

"Maybe players are going to go through a period where we play five weeks’ cricket (at a stretch, if the calendar is cramped) if we can to complete the Test championship. I think all players will be in favour of trying to finish that in any way we can."

“But again if it doesn’t happen as I said there are bigger issues in the world and missing a few Test matches isn’t going to hurt us," Paine added.

(Inputs from PTI)