CA chief downplays fears over Indian investment in BBL
Reuters |
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said fears that private investment in the Big Bash League (BBL) could lead to the tournament ceding control to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners are overblown.
CA’s privatisation plan for the BBL has stalled after the Australian board failed to achieve consensus with state members. New South Wales rejected the proposal while Queensland deferred its decision.
Some concerns stem from the growing global footprint of IPL franchise owners who now control or hold stakes in teams in T20 competitions in England, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the West Indies.
“I think that’s overblown,” Greenberg told SEN Radio on Monday. “India are such a huge part of cricket, but we’re not looking to sell the game to India.
“That’s it, full stop. We are looking to add value to our clubs and bring good partners in, and the decision on who those partners (are) is at the behest of the states.
“So, it’s on them to choose their partners.”
CA had hoped to raise up to $600 million to future-proof the sport, boost its finances and improve Australia’s competitiveness in T20 cricket.
Greenberg said Australian cricket should not shut the door on Indian investors.
“What I find a little polarising is almost every business, every government agency, I talk to are desperately keen to do business in India to create diplomacy, trade and opportunity,” he said.
“So, the flip of that is that we would look to do that in our country as well, in some parts of the BBL, not the entire part.
“I think we’ve got to have a very open mind.”
Greenberg added CA was examining whether the BBL could operate with some teams having private capital and ownership and others being run under a more traditional model.
“I think the answer to that is yes. But we have to do the piece of work first,” he said.
Reuters