Melbourne: Cricket Australia on Tuesday approved private investment in its flagship T20 event, the Big Bash League, clearing the decks for Melbourne Renegades’ sale in full even though the country’s players’ body said “significant issues remain unresolved” in the new plan.
CA announced that it would invite bids from private owners for a 100 per cent stake in Melbourne Renegades.
But the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) CEO Paul Marsh said the two bodies remain a “long away apart on a new agreement” which includes a renegotiated pay deal with the players.
The move is a first step towards heading in the process of inviting more and more bids from private investors for the sale of franchises.
Cricket Australia decided to take the first step towards privatisation after there has been a massive increase in the league’s popularity. The decision was announced by CA in the presence of star players like Pat Cummins, Sophie Molineux, Travis Head and Ellyse Perry at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Cricket Australia has received bids from private investors for a full stake in the Melbourne Renegades. The board expects new leadership to arrive from the 2027-28 BBL and WBBL seasons. The whole bidding process will not have any impact in the upcoming season as CA will run the franchise in caretaker mode.
Once the stakes of the Renegades are sold, CA will then focus on other clubs under a ‘self-determination’ model. The self-determination model means that every team will decide if and when to sell stakes in their respective franchise.
The cricket.com.au reports that the participating teams are currently divided on the decision about privatisation. Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers are keen on bringing private investment, but Sydney Sixers, Thunder, Brisbane Heat and Adelaide Strikers are reluctant to do so.
Cricket Australia would still have the right to approve or veto potential investors and also determine the reserve price that must be met. Also, changes to club names, colours and branding would need to be approved by CA.
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird said that the decision was taken considering the long-term future of the sport.
“By opening the door to private investment in the Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia is taking a deliberate step to strengthen and secure the long-term future of the game, accelerate growth and ensure we can keep investing in community cricket and grassroots participation, domestic and international pathways and the elite level,” Baird said, as quoted in the statement.
