Queensland has joined New South Wales in rejecting Cricket Australia's Big Bash League privatisation plan.
Queensland Cricket has joined New South Wales in rejecting Cricket Australia’s proposal to privatise the Big Bash League by 2026
The decision follows a meeting in Melbourne late March where state chief executives discussed the model, with New South Wales already firmly opposed
Meanwhile, Queensland had sought more time to review the plan but ultimately sided with their eastern neighbour in opposing the privatisation effort entirely
The rejection leaves only four states—Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania—in favour of CA’s privatisation push
Together, these states oversee five BBL clubs, while New South Wales and Queensland control the Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder, and Brisbane Heat respectively
The split decision highlights deep divisions over the future of the competition’s ownership structure
Privatisation could inject an estimated AU$600-800 million into the league, according to projections
The next step in CA’s plan involves obtaining official valuations for the clubs, a process that now faces uncertainty due to the loss of two key supporting states
The move underscores the financial stakes involved, but also the resistance from major stakeholders wary of losing control over their teams
The deadlock raises questions over whether CA can push ahead without full state backing
With only half the league’s states on board, the privatisation timeline may need to be revisited or renegotiated
The impasse could force CA to either soften its approach or risk derailing the entire process
Looking ahead, the coming months will determine whether CA can salvage the proposal or must abandon it altogether
If the remaining states hold firm, the league’s ownership model may remain unchanged, leaving the BBL’s future tied to its traditional state-based structure
The next round of negotiations will be critical in shaping the competition’s direction