TNCA receives proposal to host BBL opener in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has received an official proposal to host the Big Bash League (BBL) opener in Chennai, an official has confirmed.

A Cricket Australia (CA) delegation met the TNCA officials earlier this month to discuss the possibility of having the BBL opener staged at Chepauk in December. The CA delegation comprised two BBL representatives and one CA functionary, including Head of Business Operations Phil Rigby and Head of Competition Development and Strategy Margot Harley.

The TNCA, meanwhile, has put the ball in the court of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). There has been no sign of a clearance from the BCCI as yet, with a final decision expected to be made in due course after the board considers the overall situation. The BCCI has not responded to the TNCA as of February 17.

“We have heard their proposal and are fully aware of our jurisdiction. The 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. The ball is in the BCCI court,” a TNCA official said as per Cricbuzz.

The CA move is understandable with a view to boost the BBL and exploit the lucrative Indian market, with at least two of the eight franchises set to be put on sale.

At the moment, there is no clarity on which franchises will play in India should the BCCI give the nod for such an arrangement. However, Perth Scorchers will be the likeliest one to play in India given their time zone – only two-and-a-half hours ahead of Indian Standard Time – and Western Australia Cricket Association’s (WACA) inclination to consider offers from Indian business conglomerates for the purported sale of franchises.

Another reason that makes the Scorchers the frontrunner is that they are the defending champions and could be a logical choice to play the season opening clash. That said, the BBL does not follow the tradition of starting the tournament with defending champions.