T20 World Cup 2024 : Cricket Ireland and players settle contract dispute with a pay raise

The Ireland cricket team has a reason to celebrate despite losing the home T20I series to Pakistan earlier this week after their big win over the Ireland cricket board. Cricket Ireland (CI) and the Irish Cricketers' Association (ICA) have successfully resolved a tense standoff over central contracts, which led to Irish players securing a pay raise.

This big news is a big relief for both the Ireland cricket team and the national cricket board, as the players have rejected an initial offer from Cricket Ireland (CI), risking their participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to be co-hosted by the USA and Caribbean from June 1.

Initially, the Irish players faced the possibility of competing in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 on contracts that had expired at the end of February 2024, but they were extended indefinitely, ensuring they continued to receive their salaries for the period due to disagreements with the board.

Cricket Ireland and Irish players end standoff over pay

However, following wide discussions between Cricket Ireland (CI) and the Irish Cricketers' Association (ICA), both parties have now reached an agreement on the terms of the central contracts for this season. However, Cricket Ireland (CI) has not yet announced a list of contracted players for the 2024–25 season.

In a joint statement released on Thursday evening, Cricket Ireland (CI) and the Irish Cricketers' Association (ICA) confirmed that they have agreed on the terms and are in the final stages of formalizing the inaugural Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties. The Ireland board will soon announce the list of contracted players.

The statement reads: “Revised contracts will be issued immediately, and will apply until the end of February 2025. Further details about the MoU and contracts will be published in due course.”

We always prioritised our players: Warren Deutrom

Meanwhile, Warren Deutrom, the Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Ireland (CI), has confirmed that players will receive a pay raise. Deutrom further stressed the board’s commitment to prioritizing the compensation of senior men's and women's players while acknowledging the players’ significant contribution to the growth of cricket in Ireland.

Furthermore, Deutrom asserted that the players will benefit the most from the new money allocated to Irish cricket this year. However, the CEO also stressed the importance of balancing player compensation with funding for grassroots, club, and provincial cricket.

Warren Deutrom said in an official statement: “From the inception of player payments, the Cricket Ireland board has always prioritized our senior men's and women's players to reward them for their huge part in driving forward the sport in Ireland. The players have received the biggest share of the new money in Irish cricket this year."

Deutrom added, “That is as it should be. I believe we have done our best to reward players for their hard work and success without forgetting our duty to fund the rest of the sport - particularly at grassroots, club, and provincial level - to ensure we can produce future internationals as well.”