Unpaid players sue over Canadian T20

Sixteen players have started legal proceedings against the organisers of the Cricket All Star T20 Match which was held in Toronto in May claiming they have yet to be paid. The event was run by Ontario-based Kat Rose Custom Designs Inc (Kat Rose) and approved by Cricket Canada.

Affected players include Sanath Jayasariya, Saqlain Mushtaq, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Mark Boucher, Devon Smith, Tito Best and Zimbabwean captain Brendan Taylor.

“We are incredibly disappointed and distressed by the lack of professionalism of the Kat Rose organisation,” said Tim May, chief executive officer of FICA. “The players fulfilled their contractual obligations and are now each left out-of-pocket to the tune of several thousand dollars of their own money. How can anyone in good conscience conduct business this way?

“It is unacceptable that the players have yet to be compensated and reimbursed for their time and costs.”

May said Kat Rose contracted individually with all of the players to secure their attendance and participation in the match, held at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Additional events included a gala dinner, a practice, and a fan autograph session. Kat Rose has claimed the absence of some of the cricketers from Pakistan because of last minute visa issues meant the event was financially unsuccessful.