Thursday 18 May 2017 07:27, UK
Darren Lehmann believes the on-going pay dispute between Australia's cricketing authorities and the country's professional players "will be a distraction" during next month's ICC Champions Trophy.
However, Australia's national coach expects a deal will be achieved and claims there is "no need for panic" and he does not think it will affect this winter's Ashes series.
Speaking ahead of their departure for the Champions Trophy in England, which starts on June 1, Lehmann said: "You have to keep communication open so we know what direction everyone's going.
"It is going to be a bit of a distraction, there's no doubt about that.
"Just getting together and working it out is the way to go. There's no panic, it's just about the two parties getting together.
There's no panic, it's just about the two parties getting together.
"They'll get a deal done and once that happens, everyone will be right and we'll move forward. It's about getting the right outcome for both parties, that's going to be key.
"For us, it's about concentrating on the game. There's going to be discussions, that's the natural way from a players' point of view and CA's point of view. And it's playing out in the media as we know.
"For us we can just concentrate on getting ready for cricket and we've got our guys, some in India, some in England, some here. Once we all get together we'll talk about it and move forward."
Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) are at loggerheads over the current pay structure for the country's leading players.
CA wants to scrap revenue-sharing, which has been in place for 20 years, saying more funds were needed for the game's grassroots.
The ACA is equally resolved to keep revenue-sharing, saying the system was not broken and did not need fixing.
A notional deadline to reach an agreement is June 30, when the current memorandum of understanding expires.
CA say the present deal, which allocates players about a quarter of total revenues, is obsolete.
The board has made an offer that allows only international players to share in surplus revenues, while domestic cricketers will have to settle for fixed amounts.
The offer promises a hefty pay-rise on players' earnings in the current five-year deal, but the players' union has rejected any departure from the current system.
CA chairman David Peever has rejected the ACA's request for the bodies to try mediation.
Peever said: "While CA absolutely shares your stated desire for a new agreement, it seems extraordinary to be considering the involvement of a mediator before the ACA has attempted to negotiate.
"The approach the ACA has taken in demanding certain preconditions be met before it is prepared to begin negotiations is the fundamental reason why no progress has been made to date."
The two bodies have been at loggerheads for more than six months.
