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Cricket Australia’s (CA) plan to bring private investment into the Big Bash League (BBL) has got a big boost after all six state associations gave in-principle support to a new model. However, Ian Healy criticized the BBL privatisation.
The proposal is still not final, but it is a big step forward. If everything goes well, each state will be able to decide for itself whether it wants to sell a stake in its Big Bash League team, rather than following a uniform scheme for all franchises.
Big Bash League private investment scheme takes big step forward
During the latest meeting in Melbourne, Cricket Australia (CA) officials met presidents and representatives of the six state associations to discuss the revised plan after the previous model failed which suggested selling stake in all eight Big Bash clubs.
Cricket Australia’s new proposal for the BBL is called the self-determination model. In simple terms, this means that each state will have the freedom to make its own decision about private investment based on what it feels is best for its Big Bash League team.
4 big challenges before the new era of BBL
However, they need to resolve four major issues before things can move forward. The first is to decide how new BBL competitions will be governed in the future. Second, Cricket Australia has to change its governance structure so that it matches the new system.
The third is to reach an agreement with the Australian Cricketers’ Association on how the self-determination model will actually work. The fourth and final condition is an agreement between the CA and each state association on how future funding and revenues will be shared.
After agreement on these terms, the next step will be to test the market and find out how much the franchise could be worth before making any investment decisions. If the plan gets the go-ahead, Cricket Victoria is expected to rank first among all states.
Cricket Victoria ready to sell Melbourne Renegades license
In fact, Cricket Victoria has already surprised many with its plans. He has indicated he is considering a rebrand of the Melbourne Stars and is also open to selling the entire Melbourne Renegades license if the new investment model is approved.
Cricket Victoria president Mike Baird said in a statement: “The state has agreed to return to its board to discuss these proposals and address any questions arising from its members on the four key topics related to the governance of the Big Bash League and CA, player support and state delivery. We are confident this will deliver the best possible outcomes for everyone, including grassroots participants and volunteers and professional players, and provide certainty for the future of cricket in Australia.”
South Australian cricket president describes BBL privatization talks as ‘constructive’
On the other hand, South Australian Cricket Association president Will Rayner described the discussions between the stakeholders involved as “constructive”. “Although there is much work to do, we have made good progress and we will now discuss the mechanics of the self-determination model with our respective boards, depending on whether a number of conditions are met,” Rainer said.
He signed off by saying, “This was a productive season which positions us to drive the Big Bash League forward while ensuring the appropriate checks and balances are in place to ensure the long-term sustainability and sovereignty of our game.”
