CA green lights BBL privatisation despite being 'a long way' from deal with players

CA board ratifies self-determination model for states on selling stakes in BBL clubs, starting with Melbourne Renegades, while players have asked for independent assessment on a revenue share dispute

Cricket Australia (CA) will go ahead with the next phase of bringing private investment into the Big Bash Leagues, beginning with the launch of a sales process for Melbourne Renegades, despite being "a long way apart" from an agreement with the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) on the key issue of a renegotiated pay deal (MoU) with the players.

CA chair Mike Baird and chief executive Todd Greenberg announced on Tuesday that the CA board had formally agreed to allow states to take their BBL clubs to market to sell stakes, or the club entirely, to private investors.

The duo spoke as they sat alongside Australia's men's Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins, vice-captain Travis Head, women's captain Sophie Molineux and veteran allrounder Ellyse Perry. The presence of Cummins and Head in particular raised eyebrows from some quarters given Cummins has not played in the BBL since 2019 and Head since 2023, albeit Head is a BBL title-winning captain with Adelaide Strikers.RelatedUrgency to BBL contracting call with CA and ACA not aligned

CA and states agree to BBL privatisation but hurdles remain

"The Cricket Australia Board has agreed to take a landmark step toward bringing private investment into the Big Bash Leagues, beginning with the launch of a sales process for the Melbourne Renegades," a CA statement said. "CA will invite bids from private owners for the Renegades with a view to them playing the 2027-28 season under new ownership.

"Pending the result of that process, CA will consider taking other clubs to market under a self-determination model that gives each State member the ability to assess the optimal pathway for its own club and community.

"The decision to proceed with this self-determination model was made in the best interests of all aspects of Australian Cricket and will enhance funding for community, domestic and international pathways and elite cricket; protect the primacy of Test cricket; continue to develop and engage the best players in our national teams and the Big Bash Leagues and grow our brands, fan engagement and commercial strength.

"CA will continue constructive discussions with its members and the Australian Cricketers' Association while the Renegades sales process proceeds.""We're enthusiastic about moving forward with this process and taking the Melbourne Renegades to market"Cricket Victoria director Shaun Richardson

Baird added that it was a defining moment for the game in Australia. "Cricket Australia and its State members are united in our commitment to investing in and growing the BBL and WBBL, and to advancing the interests of cricket at every level," he said. "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 ensuring we can keep investing in community cricket and grassroots participation, domestic and international pathways and the elite level.

"Beginning the sales process for the Renegades allows us to take the first step in a self-determination model for our members and represents a defining moment for the game.

"Importantly, CA and its members will maintain control over the most significant aspects of Australian Cricket operations, including international scheduling, player availability, the Big Bash Leagues salary caps, branding proposals as well as the reserve price for a licence to operate that must be achieved, and approval of investors.

However, the announcement runs contrary to CA's statement following a board meeting on June 15 that four key requirements needed to be fulfilled before moving to the next phase, one of which was: "agreement to be reached on the mechanics of a self-determination model with the Australian Cricketers' Association".

ACA chief executive Paul Marsh told Cricinfo on Tuesday that the two parties were still a long way apart, which backed up Greenberg's statement on August 14 despite both executives speaking on a regular basis. Greenberg previously held Marsh's position as ACA chief executive and signing the current MoU before moving to CA.Getty Images

"We note today's announcement from CA about proceeding to the next stage of the proposed privatisation of the Big Bash Leagues," Marsh told Cricinfo. "From the ACA's perspective, today's announcement doesn't change the work that's required to be done for privatisation of the Big Bash Leagues to proceed. A new MoU needs to be negotiated between ACA and CA and currently we are a long way apart on a possible new deal.

"Despite today's announcement Australian cricket cannot proceed with the sale of any teams without the ACA's agreement. A key issue to be resolved relates to whether or not the proceeds from private investment are captured under the definition of Australian Cricket Revenue. On this matter the ACA wrote to CA last week to propose a process for independently determining whether or not these proceeds are captured under the MoU. This process will form a critical part of the next steps in this project.

"The ACA remains committed to exploring the privatisation of the Big Bash Leagues but will do so on the basis of any deal being good for the game and the players."

Speaking to reporters, Greenberg said: "Paul Marsh and I have had good dialogue. Yes, we're a fair way apart in in what the negotiation looks like. We've got an MOU that runs through till the end of 2028, so we think we've got time. I mean, it's ironic that what we're trying to do in this particular model is put more money into the hands of the players.

"We think that's a fundamental part of this project. So we will find a way through that. I have no doubt about that. I understand Paul's got a challenge because he's got a big cohort of players, so that negotiation will unfold. I'm sure we can find a deal together."

Under the current MoU, the ACA is entitled to 27.5% of all Australian cricket revenue and they believe that would include 27.5% of any lump sum from the sales of the stakes in the BBL clubs. CA believes the ACA is only entitled to 27.5% of interest earned from sales money that has been reinvested.

The ACA had started the negotiations in February offering to forego the 27.5% of the sales proceeds in exchange for permanently raising the players' ongoing revenue share, understood to be up to 33%, but that has been rejected repeatedly.Travis Head and Pat Cummins, as well as Sophie Molineux and Ellyse Perry, were alongside the Cricket Australia bosses at the press briefing•Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

It is understood CA was receptive to allowing an independent body to resolve the interpretation of the MoU. However, when such a resolution could take place is unclear.

Meanwhile, Cricket Victoria (CV) has welcomed the opportunity to forge ahead with the sale of Renegades, having caused chaos earlier in the year when it announced it would merge the administrations of Melbourne Stars and Renegades. They had plans to rename Stars ahead of the 2026-27 season before deciding to keep the branding for one more year and allow Renegades to be run independently under CA's watch while the sales process took place.

CV director Shaun Richardson was pleased with CA's decision with CV understood to be confident the club could be sold before the end of the calendar year.

"We're enthusiastic about moving forward with this process and taking the Melbourne Renegades to market," Richardson said. "We thank the Cricket Australia Board for committing to the future of cricket in this country. The sales process allows prospective parties to express their interest in purchasing the Melbourne Renegades and demonstrate why they would be the right fit for Victorian cricket.

"There's a clear level of interest both locally and internationally, and we're committed to working alongside Cricket Australia to identify a partner who shares our ambition for cricket in Victoria. Private investment will unlock value for reinvestment across Victorian cricket, from the grassroots through to the elite game."