Pat Cummins has confirmed he will not appear in any advertisements for Cricket Australia sponsor Alinta Energy this season, despite authorities insisting his stance on climate change did not prompt the company to cut ties with the sport.
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Cummins fronted a press conference in Brisbane on Tuesday regarding his new appointment as ODI skipper, but the focus quickly moved to his reported objections to the soon-to-end sponsorship arrangement with Cricket Australia (CA).
Alinta Energy signed a four-year deal to become CA's principal sponsor in 2018 and subsequently extended the partnership through to June 2023.
With less than a year to run on the contract, Cummins told Nine Newspapers he had expressed concerns to Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley about partnering with non-sustainable brands.
According to the Clean Energy Regulator, Alinta Energy's parent company Pioneer Sail Holdings was responsible for producing 10.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gases in the 2020-21 financial year.
Cummins has long made clear his strong stance on action against climate change, as well as how cricket can better manage its carbon footprint.
The Test captain has previously been in television advertisements for Alinta Energy, but was asked whether it was correct he would not be appearing in them this coming season.
"Yes, 100 per cent," Cummins said.
While Cummins told reporters he had not put pressure on CA to end the deal, he said players have a role in deciding which organisations they want to be associated with.
"It has always been a balance," he said.
"We have seen certain players make decisions based on religions, or certain foods they eat, where they won't partner with specific partners.
"Every organisation has a responsibility to do what's right for the sport and what they think is right for the organisation, and I hope society when it moves forward.
"It is a balance when you make decisions about who you are going to welcome into the cricket family."
Cummins reiterated on several occasions the Australian players had supported CA's partners and appreciated what they had done for the game.
Hours after Cummins fronted the press, CA said in a statement a "change in brand strategy" - not the skipper's comments - had prompted the WA-based energy supplier to step away.
The release also noted Alinta's leadership in transitioning to net-zero emissions through a range of initiatives.
The situation comes days after Saudi Arabian state-owned oil company Aramco was announced as the sponsor of ICC T20 World Cup's player-of-the-match awards.
Cummins said he had not been consulted on that partnership.
"They are a tournament sponsor. That is obviously far away from the decisions us players make," he said.
The issue of sporting organisations and who they choose to align with is a topic that is moving front and centre in discussions surrounding sport.
Netball Australia has this week been forced to defend a sponsorship deal with mining giant Hancock Prospecting despite opposition from within the Diamonds squad.
Australian Associated Press
