Improved terms for South Africa's cricketers

South Africa's cricketers will have improved financial packages for the next four years. The South Africa Cricketers' Association (SACA), the players' representative body, and Cricket South Africa along with six franchises signed a new contract that guarantees approximately 20% of the income generated by the board will be passed on to the players. The parties reached an agreement on August 20.

"The MOU is a comprehensive document which regulates a host of issues relating not only to the Proteas but every professional cricketer in the country," said SACA chief executive, Tony Irish. "Apart from money it regulates player contract numbers, player commercial programmes, match scheduling guidelines, conditions on which players are released to IPL and county cricket and player representation on various cricket committees.

"SACA is all about ensuring that players are proper stakeholders in professional cricket and that they have a voice on issues that affect them on and off the field," Irish said. "The MOU ensures that out of every 100 rand made by Cricket South Africa approximately 20 rand goes to the players. The players are effectively shareholders in the game, not just players on the field, so it's in their interests to have an eye on the big picture and not only on runs and wickets."

Boeta Dippenaar, the SACA president, said: "Players have felt in the past that they don't have a 'voice' in the decision-making processes which affect their lives but that is no longer the case. The players know the game and many of us have been playing it for a long time. It's important that our views are heard and count on the various cricket committees and working groups where SACA acts as our voice and works with CSA and franchises."

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain in Tests and ODIs, strongly supported the agreement. "This is the most thorough and powerful agreement any Players' Association could have with its administrators. It gives us a genuine say in deciding our futures and the direction that the game is taking. From overseas players to Kolpak and IPL releases, from medical aid to pension - and whether we play 40-over or 45-over, it's all covered in this."

CSA's CEO Gerald Majola also spoke out in support. "The signing of the MOU between CSA, SACA and the Franchises is important as it allows us to have certainty in these key relationships and therefore work better together in driving our vision of making cricket a truly national sport of winners".