Clarke hopeful of early settlement to CA contract dispute

Sydney, June 14(ANI): Australia Test and one-day captain Michael Clarke has expressed hope that the ongoing pay contract dispute between the Australia Cricketers Association (ACA) and Cricket Australia (CA) would end soon, and added that a players' strike was the last thing on the players' mind right now.

The dispute has also prevented state teams and Big Bash franchises from signing and recruiting players for next season.

"Hopefully, it will be sorted sooner rather than later for all parties. I think there's a meeting scheduled tomorrow between (CA cricket manager) Pat Howard and (ACA chief executive) Paul Marsh," The Age quoted Clarke, as saying.

"The ACA and Cricket Australia have been working a lot together over the past few months to try and get this done so I guess from the players side of things we are really keen to get it done," he added.

"The last thing we want to do is go on strike. I don't want to miss any cricket for Australia to be honest, but I think its best for everybody the sooner it gets done the better," he said.

Clarke further added: "I think the ACA and Cricket Australia are working really well together. I think that relationship continues to get better. I'm really confident that something will be done in the next week or so." (ANI)