Players won’t be greedy: Paine

Australian Test captain Tim Paine says players won't be "greedy" with Cricket Australia and the players' union to discuss finances this week ahead of new contracts being awarded.

CA has stood down the vast majority of its staff for the rest of the financial year, citing uncertainty created by COVID-19, and is in talks with the Australian Cricketers' Association regarding players' pay.

The MoU dictates that CA must, by April 30, provide the ACA with a list of national contracts plus revenue estimates for 2020-21.

Wicketkeeper Paine said the players accept they would get less pay because of the revenue sharing model they have in place with CA. He agreed, however, that the players needed to get a clearer idea of CA's financial position before agreeing to any further cuts.

"Players need to know the absolute financial positions of the game and the players aren't going to be greedy," Paine said on ABC Radio. "Our livelihood, all the people associated with the ACA and the players' association, their livelihood is dependent on the game of cricket being healthy.

"So at the moment if a pay cut for us is on the cards and that keeps our game thriving well into the future, then that's something we'll certainly have to look at."

Paine wasn't that surprised at the financial state of cricket in Australia.

"I think commercially a lot of sponsors have been pretty hard hit and it's obviously going to hit Cricket Australia at some stage then as well," Paine said.

"I think there's a bit of safeguarding towards the potential of India not coming (in December) which is worth something like 250 to 300 million dollars."

Paine said he hasn't been briefed on any contingency plan. "I haven't just yet and I don't want to be. I'm hoping that they [India[ get here, that would solve a lot of issues," Paine said.