Cricket NSW hits back at ‘misconceptions’ after Big Bash sell-off fight

Cricket NSW chairman John Knox and chief executive Lee Germon have fired back at what they call “misconceptions” about opposition to Cricket Australia’s BBL sale plan, insisting the organisation is not seeking to strengthen its ties with betting companies but wants fair value for existing markets.

CA’s plan to sell off stakes in all eight Big Bash League clubs from next year is all but over after this masthead reported that NSW and Queensland opposed the privatisation push, leaving an uncertain path forward for the game.

Last month, Cricket NSW made it clear it did not support privatisation of the league and, on Friday, Knox and Germon said they were pleased the proposal, driven by CA, had been put on hold.

“Yesterday [Thursday], Cricket Australia paused this project to consider the best path forward, after Cricket NSW and other states communicated that they were not willing to proceed to the next phase. Cricket NSW is pleased with this outcome and looks forward to collaborating with all Australian cricket entities to optimise 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 is considered and actively discussed in coming weeks.”

Part of NSW’s “alternative strategy” involves pursuing greater product fees from wagering companies – effectively taking a larger share of existing betting revenue – a move that has drawn resistance from CA, with chief executive Todd Greenberg saying on Thursday that chairman Mike Baird and the rest of the board did not support that option.

Baird also told News Corp: “What I can assure you is we will not be pursuing an option that puts gambling front and centre and cuts community cricket. That’s not a future that cricket should have. That’s not a future that cricket will have.

“There’s undoubtedly revenue potential – the question is at what cost? Before you get to regulatory positions, before you get to the history of cricket and betting, you’ve got an obligation as a community sport to role model and play leadership on issues such as this and cricket has taken a role model position following a very dark chapter in the history of the sport.”

In response, Knox and Germon rejected the suggestion Cricket NSW was seeking to deepen ties with betting companies.

“There are misconceptions regarding the source of revenues that Cricket NSW believes Australian cricket can use to self-fund the Big Bash Leagues. There are many line items, including broadcast, ticketing and commercial partnerships, to be optimised within our sport,” the pair said in the letter.

“Cricket NSW is not seeking to strengthen ties to wagering operators via advertising, sponsorships or increased betting offerings to fund the game. This is aligned to our belief that the enjoyment of sport should not be predicated on wagering on it.

“Australian cricket, like other sports, currently receives income from wagering. Cricket NSW has asked Cricket Australia whether it is currently receiving fair value for its product fees.”

Meanwhile, Cricket NSW pointed out it had invested heavily in grassroots cricket and believes that remains the most productive path forward.

“The best way to do this is by keeping revenues within Australian cricket, to reinvest them in the game’s grassroots,” the letter reads. “It is also necessary to do this via optimising delivery structures and reducing duplication across Australian cricket, to maximise funding that reaches participants. We believe more investment into community cricket is possible under our alternative strategy. This is the expectation of our community.”

The impasse has also drawn concern from the players’ union, with uncertainty about the league’s future and its ability to retain top talent still unresolved.

“It is a disappointing outcome for Australian cricket that all stakeholders couldn’t find a united way forward given our sport is at a critical juncture,” players boss Paul Marsh said on Friday.

“The problems that the CA project were designed to solve, including ensuring our system can attract and retain elite players, still remain and as such the ACA continues to be committed to working with the industry to find alternative solutions that grow the game and benefit all in it.”

Baird’s term as CA chairman expires in October, although he is eligible for re-election for a further three years. Greenberg has maintained his view that private capital will eventually become part of the BBL, but concedes the timeline is now unclear.

The proposal rejected by NSW and Queensland had called for teams to be opened up to valuations and expressions of interest this year, before new investors entered the league for the 2027-28 season.