NSW privately warming to BBL privatisation plans

Rival states believe NSW is beginning to warm to BBL privatisation, despite the state remaining publicly coy on their support for the concept.

Cricket Australia’s board met on Wednesday to discuss the next elements of the plan to sell shares in multiple franchises.

For Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania, it’s full steam ahead.

More clarity on governance elements means South Australia is essentially across the line, while there is confidence that the more information Queensland is uncovering, the more favourable their perspective becomes.

Three governance components were discussed and are likely to be formalised soon.

• Terms on the board will become commonplace, with directors set to be limited to three terms of three years
• The six states are set to run the Cricket Australia nominations process. This is so states can control the quality of people which end up on the CA board. The belief is this placed more rigour on the board nomination process, and
• A ‘super board’ concept has been described as almost certain. State chairs will meet with the CA board in a formal sense every six months to review the governing body’s strategy and big ticket decisions.

The latter point will allow state chairs to have more of a connection to the game, and improve the lines of communication between CA and its states in a federated model.

Speaking on SEN at lunch on Thursday, CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed expansion remains an objective for the BBL to move from eight to 10 teams “within three to five years” and before the end of the current broadcast rights agreement.

Teams in New Zealand, Canberra, and even a second side in South Australia have been floated.

Cricket Australia has stopped short of asking for unanimous support around BBL privatisation, though it has become clear they would prefer South Australia and possibly Queensland on board to push ahead with the lucrative concept.

NSW remains publicly sceptical, but sources involved in high level discussions are adamant that the state will eventually agree to not stand in the way of privatisation for other states, even if they have no plans to sell the Sixers or Thunder to investors.

Queensland and South Australia are believed to have responded favourably to the governance changes, which are broadly designed to keep Cricket Australia accountable both logistically and financially.

Even if Cricket Australia receives adequate support from states, they will need to convince the Australian Cricketers' Association to change the MOU.