A big report has come out on the privatization of Big Bash League and the global T20 league in Australia. Cricket Australia is looking at other investors, and they do not want to sell more than 2-3 teams to Indian owners.
The privatization of the BBL was confirmed before the start of the current season of the Big Bash League. Cricket Australia had announced that, in order to further the growth of the Big Bash League, it had considered privatizing some teams in the BBL.
On the day of the final match of the Big Bash League 2025-26, when two of the most successful BBL teams, Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers clashed against each other in the final, renowned sports journalist Tom Morris revealed some shocking facts on BBL privatization.
“Cricket Australia doesn’t want to sell more than 2-3 teams to Indian owners” – Latest report on BBL private ownership
Indian owners have been some of the most prominent investors in the globalization of cricket, especially with the increasing growth of franchise-level T20 cricket leagues around the world. Starting with the IPL, Indian team owners have now also invested in teams in the MLC, SA20, CPL, The Hundred and ILT20.
Big names include the Super Kings franchise, MI franchise and Sunrisers franchise, who are among the top investors in franchise-level cricket. Therefore, when there was talk of handing over BBL teams to investors, Indian companies came up with their interests and proposals.
Australia, one of the most important cricket-loving countries, could be a big market for these companies to buy from. However, reports suggest that Cricket Australia does not intend to sell more than 2-3 teams to Indian owners and hence, it is also eyeing American investors.
However, they have not ruled out Indian investors, as they consider it important to bring them on board to attract Indian players to the league in the future, as India has the largest pool of talented cricketers.
Tom Morris on SEN Cricket revealed, “Cricket Australia is not looking to sell more than 2-3 teams to Indian owners. Keep a close eye on US investors too… but it is important to get India to a point, in the hope that eventually player movement from Indians into the BBL becomes a reality.”
“CA does not want to sell more than 2-3 teams to Indian owners. Also keep a close eye on US investors… But it is important to bring India to a point, in the hope that eventually the movement of players from Indians to the BBL becomes a reality. The Thunder and Renegades if…
– SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) 25 January 2026
Three teams in BBL will be sold to private owners
Each Big Bash League franchise is estimated by Cricket Australia to be worth approximately $150+ million, and only two of the designated BBL franchises have the possibility of handing over 100% of their ownership to private investors.
Both Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades franchises are likely to sell 100% of their shares to private owners, while other potential franchises that may be up for privatisation, including the most successful team, Perth Scorchers, will hand over partial ownership of only 49% to the investor, while the rest will remain with Cricket Australia.
“It is estimated that each BBL club is worth between 150 and 200 million. The Thunder and the Renegades, if they are sold – as I expect they will eventually be – are 100% more likely to be sold.
Morris said, “If a third team were to be sold, I believe that among other franchises, the Perth Scorchers is the most likely team to be sold to a 49% investor.”
“January is the BBL, April and May are the IPL, and August is The Hundred”
Morris also informed that currently, franchise leagues are being planned so that international cricketers can participate in these competitions equally and there is no conflict with their international schedules.
He recognized that cricket was in a utopia, that is, an imaginative trance according to which he saw the three biggest franchise leagues, the IPL, the BBL and The Hundred as the three new Grand Slams.
“I think there is a utopia here globally. That is to treat the three biggest franchise leagues like they are Grand Slams. January is the BBL, April and May are the IPL, and August is The Hundred,” he said.
This window will facilitate the international schedule so that none of these three leagues are disrupted. The remaining eight months can be used for designated international Test cricket and ICC tournaments.
“I think there is a utopia here globally. That is, treating the three biggest franchise leagues like they are Grand Slams. January is the BBL, April and May are the IPL and August is The Hundred.”
This means that Test cricket can survive and play only for 4 months out of the 12 months of the year.
– SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) 25 January 2026
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