Cricket: English counties accused of 'exploiting' players as PCA claims professionals being paid below minimum wage

The Professional Cricketers' Association has claimed a dozen county players are being paid or offered terms below the national minimum wage.

Many of the game's top stars, including several England internationals, are currently earning highly lucrative sums playing in the Indian Premier League.

But the PCA says it has discovered at least six unnamed counties using unapproved employment contracts in the past 12 months, with nine professional players being paid below the national minimum wage and three others offered similar terms.

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The national minimum wage in the United Kingdom stands at £7.83 for anybody over 25, £7.38 for those aged between 21 and 24 and £5.90 for 18 to 20-year-olds.

PCA chairman Daryl Mitchell said: "We need to make sure we protect the players' rights to a fair contract and it seems to me that some players are being exploited by their counties.

"It is easy for players and in particular those just making their way in the game to feel under pressure to sign deals below minimum wage.

"They can be influenced that if they do not sign then their dream of playing professionally will be over.

"This is an area we are working really hard on to put right and we have achieved some positive results so far.

"However, this should not be an issue within professional cricket and we are fighting to stamp out unapproved contracts within the game.

"I know that the England and Wales Cricket Board share our concerns and we are working with them to ensure this is not the case in the county game going forward."