Australian cricket was in crisis on Friday night after pay talks between players and the governing body fell apart.
The Australian Cricketers Association claimed its proposal to Cricket Australia to end a nine-month impasse had been dismissed by the governing body. The ACA held an emergency two-hour board meeting on Friday afternoon, and had resolved to continue its fight to retain a pay model it believes is fair.
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Cricket's pay dispute explained
Australia's cricketers are effectively unemployed after failing to reach an agreement with the sport's governing body.
Players were set to be advised over the weekend why their fight must continue.
Cricket Australia said on Friday it was shocked by the ACA's claim and had not been formally notified of this position. CA said discussions were progressing, with CA chief James Sutherland and counterpart Alistair Nicholson in telephone and email contact on Friday. CA says it had sent the ACA an agenda for when negotiations reopened in a neutral venue on Monday.
Players have been paid from gross revenue since the original memorandum of understanding was brokered in 1997 but the players say they have offered a "modernised revenue scheme" to CA which had the ability to keep both parties happy.
The fight over how much money should be directed to grassroots cricket also continues. CA says it needs more than $200 million over the next five years to help develop the game, support local clubs and deal with the threats from other sports. Players are willing to tip a "significant contribution" due to them into grassroots cricket but major stumbling blocks around the overall plan remain.
As revealed by Fairfax Media on Wednesday, the discussions between the two parties were not progressing at an encouraging rate, despite claims they had been on a "steady" track.
This means next month's Test tour of Bangladesh remains in doubt. The Australia A tour of South Africa this month had already been canned.
At stake is how almost $450 million of money owed to the players is split up.
More than 200 players, including Test stars, have been unemployed for three weeks now, saving CA almost $2 million in wages. This money will be redirected to grassroots cricket.
The Southern Stars are also now unemployed, for their women's World Cup campaign is over. However, several players will link up with the Twenty20 tournament in England.
Players on Friday night said they were united in their fight to remain a "partner" in the sport, and not just an employee.