Cricket NSW hits back at ‘misconceptions’ after BBL sell-off fight
Cricket NSW chairman John Knox and CEO Lee Germon have hit out at what they call “misconceptions” about opposition to Cricket Australia’s BBL sales plan, insisting the organization is not trying to strengthen ties with betting companies but wants fair value for existing markets.
CA’s plan to sell stakes in all eight Big Bash League clubs from next year has all but ended after this imprint reported that NSW and Queensland opposed the privatization move, leaving an uncertain path for the game.
Last month, Cricket NSW made it clear that it did not support privatization of the league, and on Friday Knox and Germon said they were happy to see the CA-led bid be put on hold.
“Yesterday [Thursday]Cricket Australia has paused this project to consider the best way forward after Cricket NSW and other states indicated they were not willing to move forward to the next stage. Cricket NSW is delighted with this outcome and looks forward to collaborating with all Australian cricket bodies to optimize the Big Bash Leagues,” read a letter from Knox and Germon to Cricket NSW members and delegates.
“We have provided Cricket Australia and all states with an alternative strategy to self-fund these improvements. Our expectation is that this proposal will be considered and actively discussed in the coming weeks.”
Part of NSW’s “alternative strategy” involves demanding higher product fees from betting companies (effectively taking a larger share of available betting revenue); This move drew resistance from CA; CEO Todd Greenberg said Thursday that chairman Mike Baird and the rest of the board do not support that option.
Baird also told News Corp: “I can assure you that we will not pursue an option that favors gambling and eliminates community cricket. This is not the future cricket should have. This is not the future cricket will have.”
“There is undoubtedly revenue potential – the question is how much does it cost? Before you get into regulatory positions, before you get into the history of cricket and betting, as a community sport you have an obligation to role model and lead on issues like this, and cricket has taken a role model position after a very dark chapter in the history of the sport.”
In response, Knox and Germon rejected the suggestion that Cricket NSW was seeking to deepen its ties with betting companies.
“There are misconceptions about the source of revenue that Cricket NSW believes Australian cricket can use to self-fund the Big Bash Leagues. There are many items in our sport that need to be optimised, including broadcasting, ticketing and commercial partnerships,” the pair said in the letter.
“Cricket NSW does not seek to strengthen its ties with betting operators through advertising, sponsorship or increased betting offers to fund the game. This is consistent with our belief that the enjoyment of sport should not be based on betting.
“Australian cricket, like other sports, currently generates revenue from betting. Cricket NSW has asked Cricket Australia whether it currently receives fair value for its product fees.”
Meanwhile, Cricket NSW has stated that it is investing heavily in grassroots cricket and believes this is the most productive way forward.
“The best way to do this is to keep the revenues in Australian cricket and reinvest them into the grassroots of the game,” the letter says. “To maximize the funding reaching participants it is also necessary to do this by optimizing distribution structures and reducing duplication in Australian cricket. We believe there can be greater investment in community cricket under our alternative strategy. This is our community’s expectation.”
The stalemate has also raised concerns within the players’ union, as uncertainty over the future of the league and its ability to retain top talent remains unresolved.
“Given that our sport is at a critical point, it is a disappointing outcome for Australian cricket that all stakeholders have failed to find common ground,” players’ boss Paul Marsh said on Friday.
“The issues the CA project was designed to solve, including ensuring our system can attract and retain elite players, remain and that is why the ACA is committed to working with the industry to find alternative solutions that will grow the game and benefit all.”
Baird’s term as CA president ends in October, but he is eligible for re-election for another three years. Greenberg maintained his view that private equity will eventually become part of the BBL, but acknowledged the timeline is unclear at the moment.
The proposal, which was rejected by NSW and Queensland, called for the teams to be opened to valuations and expressions of interest this year before new investors enter the league for the 2027-28 season.
