Another Major T20 League Eyes Private Ownership Shift

The global trend of private team ownership in T20 competitions around the world could soon reach Australia, with Cricket Australia (CA) confirming it is exploring the possibility of introducing private ownership into the Big Bash League (BBL), mirroring a trend that has already transformed leagues like the IPL, and The Hundred.

The Big Bash League’s potential move to privatisation marks another chapter in the sport’s growing commercialisation, as national boards begin to weigh the benefits of external investment against traditional structures.

CA’s announcement follows the completion of an internal report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which was commissioned earlier this year to assess the Big Bash League’s financial model and long-term trajectory. Among BCG’s key recommendations was the consideration of “alternative forms of investment and ownership” — including private capital — as a route to expanding the league’s value and global competitiveness.

Big Bash League teams are currently fully owned by Cricket Australia and operated through the state associations. The idea of inviting private investment into the competition is not new, but until now, CA had resisted, largely to protect its summer broadcasting schedule anchored around iconic Test fixtures in Melbourne and Sydney.

But that may now be changing.

“We’re unashamed about our ambition to make the BBL the second-best T20 league in the world, behind the IPL,” said CA CEO Todd Greenberg in an interview with SEN Radio. “To do that, we need more investment — and realistically, that means asking tough questions about private ownership.”

One of the concerns raised by critics is whether private owners might demand access to top Australian players during the Big Bash League season, potentially clashing with traditional Test match commitments. Greenberg, however, insisted that fixtures like the New Year’s Test at the SCG remain “non-negotiable.”

Cricket Australia is closely watching developments in England, where The Hundred has entered a transition phase following the sale of multiple franchises to private entities. Several teams are being rebranded under new ownership, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism within the English cricket ecosystem.

Greenberg said CA’s interest in privatisation is rooted in long-term sustainability — not short-term profits.

“This isn’t about selling the farm,” he said. “It’s about ensuring every level of cricket — from grassroots to the elite — continues to receive the resources it needs. That’s only possible with a modern investment approach.”

The Big Bash League’s potential shift toward privatisation follows a trend set by the IPL and being adopted in different forms by other leagues. As the BBL contemplates private investors — with Greenberg revealing he has already received interest from unfamiliar names — the message is clear: T20 leagues are increasingly seen not just as competitions, but as high-growth assets.

For now, CA has made no decisions. The BCG report will undergo what Greenberg described as a “thorough exploratory process” involving all key stakeholders — including state associations, players, and broadcasters. But the wheels are in motion, and if the financial numbers make sense, BBL clubs could very well welcome private investors in the not-too-distant future.

As the global game moves further into the age of franchise capitalism, the question for cricket boards is no longer whether privatisation will happen, but when and how.