Future naming rights sponsors of Cricket Australia could potentially seek a clause to ensure players are never allowed to speak against them.

This comes after Pat Cummins spoke out against Alinta last year, causing the company to pull out its sponsorship.

Course leader of the sports media and sports business degrees at Holmesglen Institute and adjunct professor at Swinburne University Dr Sam Duncan told Oliver Peterson on Perth Live athletes are not just athletes.

“We are living now in an age where athletes have a voice and they have a social voice… they are willing to comment on social issues,” said Professor Duncan.

“There was a time [when] athletes just played sport.”

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