CA CEO Todd Greenberg eyes ‘Grand Slam’ status for Big Bash League

Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive Todd Greenberg believes the Big Bash League (BBL) has the potential to become one of the ‘Grand Slam’ tournaments in the global T20 franchise cricket landscape. Currently in its 14th season, the BBL is at a pivotal stage as CA actively considers privatisation, following the findings of a report commissioned from the Boston Consulting Group in July.

The report recommended selling stakes in the league, a move that could significantly reshape Australian domestic cricket. If approved by Cricket Australia, the privatisation process could raise as much as AUD 800 million. The influx of funds would allow CA to address ongoing budgetary challenges while also enabling substantial investment across all levels of the sport, from grassroots development to elite performance pathways.

Greenberg highlighted that privatisation could also help the BBL achieve its long-term ambition of becoming the world’s second-most prominent T20 competition, behind only the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL, widely regarded as the gold standard of franchise cricket, has set benchmarks in terms of revenue, global reach, and player participation since its inception. With increased financial backing and strategic planning, CA believes the BBL can close the gap.

The CA CEO further stated that the BBL should be part of a broader ‘Grand Slam’ concept in franchise cricket, aligning itself with elite tournaments such as the IPL and England’s The Hundred. Cricket Australia is expected to continue consultations with stakeholders before reaching a final decision, with clarity on the privatisation of the BBL likely to emerge sometime in 2026.

“The way I have described it… I think there will be effectively the Grand Slams in T20 franchise cricket. We have already seen one in the IPL, let us call that Wimbledon. I think The Hundred (in England) will make their mark there. I want to make sure that in Australia, we form part of that Grand Slam series of T20 events,” said Greenberg to SEN Cricket.

“And to do that, you need capital, you need investment, you need the best players, and you need the right window. I am conscious that if we just sit around and hope that we can compete as opposed to genuinely trying to find ways to compete, we might lose our place on that stage,” he added.