Source : ABC NEWS
Cricket Australia (CA) could take its largest step towards Big Bash League (BBL) privatisation as soon as this week, if a majority of states approve the sale of their franchises.
With a deadline fast approaching for the game’s biggest change in decades, CA handed states a planned pathway forward for the sale of clubs midway through March.
State bosses are expected to indicate by tomorrow whether they want to move forward with the process.
Ideally, officials would prefer a range of private owners from both Australia and overseas, with the prospect of Indian Premier League (IPL) clubs also taking shares in some of the BBL teams.
That in itself would raise questions over the names and colours of franchises, and which states would be happy to lose their branding as part of the sale.
If a majority declare they want to proceed, CA will make contact with prospective buyers to gauge the prospective value of the clubs that are willing to sell.
Provided the market evaluations meet CA’s expectations, the process of selling those clubs would go ahead.
If a small minority opt against a sale they will not be sold, however, that could cause financial hurdles if the privatisation of other clubs drives up the salary cap.
Fans go wild in Chennai after witnessing the Super Kings taking a Delhi Capitals wicket. (AP: Mahesh Kumar A.)
CA’s initial plans are for a 49 per cent sale of each club, with the states to take the majority of the equity, while some money is secured away by head office.
Any changes would then come into effect for the 2027-28 season.
WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson claimed last month the Perth Scorchers were the “most successful franchise in world cricket” and “reserving their sacred assets” was a priority.
Cricket NSW boss Lee Germon called for the sport to consider alternative revenue streams, with gambling money through higher wagering fees one option.
“We’re at the point where we believe that there need to be alternative proposals considered,” Germon said last month.
“We may well end up at the first proposal, which is selling all the clubs, but we need to do the due diligence.
“We want to invest in BBL. We want to lift it. We want to have the best players playing it.
“Are there alternative ways we can do that without necessarily going straight to selling the clubs?”
CA must also decide whether to begin the upcoming BBL season in India, and whether a Christmas night match is possible, before releasing the competition’s schedule.
AAP
