Players warned not to sign IPL-style Hundred deals in standoff with owners

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has advised players not to sign Hundred contracts for next season amid a dispute with the new franchise owners over their terms.

In a supplementary process to the new IPL-style auction that will take place next year, Hundred teams are permitted to make four direct signings, including one from their existing squad and three others, either overseas players or a player with an England central contract.

The direct-signing window opened last week, but the players’ union is understood to have told its members to hold off signing because of a standoff over the new multiyear contracts.

The Guardian has learned that the new franchise owners – four of whom also own Indian Premier League teams – have included a unilateral 12-month release clause in the three-year deals they are offering to direct signings, which the PCA is contesting. Such contracts would offer no security to the players, as well as keeping them on the same salary for three years even if they enjoyed a stellar first season.

Such three-year deals with a 12-month release option are standard practice in India, where there is no players’ association. The Board of Control for Cricket in India recognised the Indian Cricketers’ Association six years ago, but membership is restricted to former players. Current players have no representation.

The PCA has been shown draft versions of the players’ contracts, but has yet to sign them off and is understood to be pushing back against the release clause, leading to delays in players signing.

There are concerns at the PCA about players losing out either through being effectively dismissed 12 months into a three‑year deal or being retained on terms below their market value.

Jos Buttler found himself in the latter situation at the start of his career in the IPL, being held for three years by Mumbai Indians on the relatively modest salary of £385,000 following his international breakthrough.

The Hundred owners had hoped to reach an agreement on player contracts before the new salary bands were announced last month, with each franchise’s overall budget increasing to £2.05m in the men’s competition and £880,000 in the women’s, but that has not been possible. The standoff has already led to some signings being delayed, with players refusing to sign.

Negotiations are continuing between the franchises and the PCA to resolve the situation. One possible compromise would be the inclusion of performance-based pay escalators in contracts as a trade-off for accepting release clauses.

The direct-signing window is due to close at the end of January before the first Hundred auction next March, which will replace the old draft system.

The PCA declined to comment.