Players won't bow to NZC says Nash
By Jonathon Millmow
From Stuff, 5 November 2002

If there was any doubt about what direction the pay dispute would take then former international Dion Nash removed it with a stinging attack on New Zealand Cricket yesterday.

Speaking as a board member of the Players Association, Nash indicated the players would not bow to NZC's final pay offer and therefore would remain in the ranks of unemployed after the 4pm deadline today.

The players are demanding a 60 per cent or $2.7 million pay increase but have been offered $450,000 or 9 per cent.

If they don't accept the offer NZC will start seeking individual contracts with players to form a team for the first test against India starting on December 12.

But the main question is where will NZC stop. NZC chief executive Martin Snedden has vowed to cancel both the Max and the provincial A competitions and review the first class schedule if the impasse remains.

If the players remain firm then the domestic scene could be wiped altogether.

It is understood that domestic players are happy with NZC's final offer but are being influenced by their less enthused international peers.

The introduction of a captain's allowance at domestic level means the likes of Canterbury's Gary Stead and Wellington's Matthew Bell could earn $40,500 excluding prizemoney this season.

However, the international players are annoyed they have not had a pay rise in the past four years, though it has not stopped Chris Cairns and Stephen Fleming earning around $260,000.

Former Black Caps coach Steve Rixon is not taking sides in the stand-off but said NZC "probably" had to accept that the Players Association movement was here to stay.

He said the corresponding body in Australia was fully involved in the decision making process of the Australian Cricket board.

"They (negotiating teams) seem entrenched," Rixon said.

"We had problems here for a while and eventually got a compromise and I just hope you can get it altogether because this is not in your best interest ahead of a World Cup."

Meanwhile, Nash lashed out at NZC, saying that it was unwilling to discuss the players' concerns and had tried to smear the association's motives in the media.

"Martin Snedden, currently all he's trying to do is to make these guys look like greedy, money-grabbing creatures," Nash said.

"This whole thing so far has looked like a couple in a restaurant having a huge argument, and now one of them yells at the top of his voice and then storms out.

"It is at boiling point now. I hope the players stick together because for the long term future of the game it is the only way we can move forward."

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