Auckland: New Zealand professional cricketers on Tuesday rejected a pay offer from their employers, New Zealand Cricket (NZC). But the Cricket Players Association (CPA) said it was willing to resume domestic cricket if mediation talks start immediately. NZC has not responded to the latest move which threatens next month's tour by India, with speculation here that top level players who do not sign contracts will be dropped and former first class cricketers will take the pitch against the tourists. CPA chief executive Rob Nichol said the players could not accept the latest NZC offer. The CPA had also heeded legal advice that players should not agree to uncertain terms with unknown consequences. Nichol claimed the NZC offer may have breached New Zealand employment law on the right to collective bargaining. "The offer constitutes a take-it-or-leave-it offer and threatens to undermine the association by approaching individual players," Nichol said. He said the players wanted to play cricket and wanted to reach an agreement, and proposed the negotiations reconvene under mediation. CPA is demanding a player payments pool of 7.2 million NZ ($ 3.4 million) Dollars, while NZC is offering 4.7 million NZ Dollars.

Extras:
New Zealand pay crisis unresolved, Indian tour looms

Tags: cricket, new zealand professional cricketers, rejected, pay offer, employers, players association, cpa, resume, mediation talks start, tour by india, top level players, sign contracts, dropped, former first class, pitch, tourists, chief executive, heeded legal advice, unknown consequences, employment law, collective bargaining, constitutes, individual, reconvene, dollars.