Private Ownership and Expansion Suggested for Big Bash Leagues in Australia

Cricket Australia (CA) has received major recommendations to change how the Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) are run. These suggestions include private ownership, expansion of teams, and attracting top international players.

To plan the next phase of growth for both BBL and WBBL, CA hired the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The group spoke with experts, players, teams, and others involved in cricket both in Australia and globally.

What Were the Recommendations?

Some of the key recommendations from BCG include:

• Start the BBL season later so that more top international players can take part.
• Increase the salary cap so players earn more and it attracts better talent.
• Explore new ownership models, including private investment, instead of full control by CA and state cricket bodies.
• Think about expanding the number of teams in both BBL and WBBL.
• Try different administrative structures to run the leagues more efficiently.

Right now, all BBL and WBBL teams are owned by Cricket Australia and its state associations. But in many other leagues like the IPL (India), SA20 (South Africa), MLC (USA), and ILT20 (UAE), the teams are owned by private companies — many of them Indian franchise owners.

No Final Decisions Yet

CA said that these ideas will now go through a detailed review process. They will talk to all stakeholders — such as states, Big Bash clubs, players, and sponsors — before deciding what steps to take.

“It’s important to know that no decision has been made yet,” said Mike Baird, Chairman of CA. “Any step we take will be for the benefit of the BBL, WBBL, and Australian cricket overall.”

He added that if these changes happen, the extra money made could be used to support grassroots cricket and player development.

Global Interest in T20 Leagues

There is already global interest in cricket leagues. Recently, England’s The Hundred tournament offered 49% stakes in its teams, which attracted interest from Indian IPL team owners, tech companies, and private equity firms. This shows that cricket leagues have big business potential.

Why Make These Changes?

The goal is to make sure the Big Bash leagues stay popular and competitive. The leagues have been very successful in terms of entertainment and fan engagement over the past 15 years. However, with other T20 leagues growing rapidly, BBL and WBBL need to keep evolving.

“T20 cricket has changed the game globally,” said Todd Greenberg, CEO of the Australian Cricketers’ Association. “We need to ensure BBL remains one of the best competitions in the world.”

When Will the Next Seasons Be Held?

• WBBL will run from November 9 to December 13, 2025
• BBL will follow from December 14 to January 25, 2026