Argus News - Big Bash League in India! What We Know So Far

Chennai, Feb 18: Cricket Australia is considering taking the season opener of the next edition of Big Bash League in India. The Australian cricket body is currently exploring the possibility with Chennai as potential host venue.

Senior BBL executives Phil Rigby (head of business operations) and Margot Harley (head of competition development and strategy) recently visited India, as reported by SEN. The visit reportedly was a fact-finding trip around taking a BBL match overseas.

There were reports of the Cricket Australia delegation met with Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) officials before having a tour of MA Chidambaram Stadium — Chepauk Stadium — which plays host to Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

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The TNCA has confirmed receiving a proposal. However, despite their approval, TNCA has left the matter to the BCCI. “We have made it clear to the Australian delegation that without BCCI approval, the plan cannot move forward,” revealed a TNCA official on conditions of anonymity.

Despite the fact that CA is pushing the idea quite seriously, they too are aware of significant hurdles they have to overcome. To make their idea a reality, CA not only has to get approval from BCCI, but also from the host broadcasters as well as the clubs.

Key Issues include:

• BBL will lose a home game from their season.
• If a game is taken overseas, CA could buy the game off the host club to take control of the fixture.
• Scheduling would be affected due to long-distance travel and the need for adequate preparation time beforehand for the players.
• Players also require recovery time after returning home before their next game.
• Chennai poses an additional challenge as it is prone to flooding in December.

Why BBL is keen to host a match in India?

• Playing BBL matches overseas has been discussed previously.
• This latest move coincides with talks that the competition may soon welcome private investors.
• Indian investors and existing IPL franchise owners are expected to play a major role.
• There has been talks of Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades being sold entirely to private investors.

India bowling great R Ashwin, who is a former CSK player, was all set to be the first India international to feature in the BBL last season, having signed for Thunder. However, he had to withdraw due to a knee injury. The BCCI do not allow active India men’s players to appear in overseas T20 leagues.

BBL Scheduling

The flagship white-ball competition of Australia is staged at one of the busiest times on the cricket calendar, overlapping with ILT20 and SA20, while Australia’s home Test series also runs alongside its opening weeks until January.