SYDNEY: The protracted cricket pay dispute between Australian cricket team and the board was finally resolved today with players and management agreeing on a new “in principle” deal, ensuring upcoming series against Bangladesh, India, and England can go ahead.

“Today’s agreement is the result of sensible compromises by both parties,” said Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland.

Earlier, Australia captain Steve Smith said he was upbeat that a bitter pay war between players and management could be nearly over — but warned the team wouldn’t go ahead with this month’s tour of Bangladesh until a new deal is signed.

Some 230 Australian cricketers have been unemployed since the end of June when their contracts expired, in a row that has rattled the game and left their relationship with the governing body badly strained.

But after months of bad-tempered negotiations over a new pay deal — and a player boycott of an Australia A tour to South Africa — the dispute settled.