Cricket Australia's Plan To Grow BBL As Big As IPL Faces Major Setback

BBL & IPL defending champions, Perth Scorchers & RCB | PC- AFP

With every other global franchise looking to expand after getting backing from the Indian investors, Cricket Australia (CA) is taking a different route to make the Big Bash League (BBL) as big as the IPL.

The Australian board is taking all possible measures to make the league a hit, with growing competition from other franchise leagues. 

Once regarded as the biggest T20 league after the IPL, the BBL is losing its identity to the upcoming leagues such as SA20, ILT20 and The Hundred. 

A common factor across these prominent franchise leagues is the backing they receive from IPL stakeholders. However, BBL club owners remain divided, with some expressing reservations about the prospect of their franchises being privatised.

BBL to expand to be a 10-team tournament?

According to the Guardian, CA is looking to expand the Big Bash League to 10 teams, but on one condition, just like its Indian counterpart.

Earlier, the Australian board threw off an idea to sell its franchise to private conglomerates, only if the state boards choose to sell their club's stakes. However, the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) showed their disagreement with the CA's plan for privatisation. 

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Not only that, it was reported that the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades may merge, but Cricket Victoria declined the merger. 

"Cricket Australia is understood to have made significant progress in gaining support for the alternative plan since that point, although may not put it to a board vote this week, the report stated. "Following board approval, the backing of four of the six states would be required to kickstart the sale process, with Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania strongly in favour."

Which Australian cities can get its clubs?

Notably, all of Cricket Australia's six member organisations - New South Wales (Cricket NSW), Queensland (Queensland Cricket), South Australia (South Australian Cricket Association), Tasmania (Cricket Tasmania), Victoria (Cricket Victoria), and Western Australia (Western Australian Cricket) have their respective clubs in the BBL. 

However, the non-member associations, i.e. Cricket ACT and Northern Territory Cricket, don't have their representatives in the Big Bash. Thus, Canberra and Darwin may become the cities with their own clubs if the BBL gets expanded. 

However, just like Cricket NSW and Cricket Victoria, the other member organisations may get multiple entrants in the BBL. 

Can BBL 2026/27 witness 10 teams fighting for the glory?

The BBL 2026/27 is touted to be much bigger and way better than its previous editions. CA has planned to take the curtain-raiser of the upcoming season to Chennai, with the opener between the Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on December 12. 

The schedule for the forthcoming season is already released, with eight clubs to clash in a 44-match marquee event from December 12 to January 26. Thus, if the BBL expansion does happen, a 10-team season won’t be possible anytime before the BBL 2027/28. 

Having said that, if the BBL gets expanded, the Women's Big Bash League will also extend from eight to 10 teams. 

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