Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has declared private investment in the Big Bash League (BBL) is 'inevitable', warning that delay could see Australia 'miss the boat' in the rapidly evolving global T20 landscape.
Speaking on the ABC Cricket Podcast, Greenberg said the BBL must secure a place among the world's elite T20 competitions, which he loosely compared to tennis grand slams. He identified the Indian Premier League and England's The Hundred as the other two major tournaments, and suggested a future Champions League-style event could pit their winners against each other.
Greenberg emphasised that privatisation would allow the BBL to attract and retain top players by offering competitive salaries, particularly during a dedicated window from late December to January. 'The open question remains: Is our model fit for purpose in the next decade? Can we continue to attract and retain the best players to the BBL in a market where we're up against private capital all over the world?' he said.
However, Cricket Australia faces pushback from state associations in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Greenberg acknowledged the resistance but argued that waiting to see how other leagues develop would be a poor strategy. 'I think we've done a brilliant job in the BBL, in fact I think we're punching well above our weight considering where we are and what we have,' he added.
The push for privatisation comes as rival T20 leagues proliferate in South Africa, Pakistan, the Caribbean and the United States, all backed by wealthy private investors. Greenberg stressed that Cricket Australia must ensure it finds the right partners, not just the biggest cheques, to maintain control over the league's direction.
