Updated ,first published
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird and chief executive Todd Greenberg have denied approving Cricket Victoria’s plans to merge the Melbourne Stars and Renegades in order to free up a BBL licence for sale to private investors.
In an occasionally heated virtual meeting with the chairs and chief executives of the five states other than Victoria on Thursday afternoon, CA stressed that nothing had formally been approved or applied for in terms of a caretaker set-up for the Renegades.
This is despite informal discussions between CA and CV about taking the Renegades out of the state association’s office at Junction Oval and temporarily moving it to CA’s headquarters at Jolimont near the MCG.
Baird and Greenberg also dismissed the possibility of sanctions against CV for moving ahead of the agreed process between the states.
State chiefs spoken to by this masthead on Thursday evening were sceptical about CA’s explanations, and were looking ahead to a set of CEOs meetings next week, and then a meeting of CA and state chairs on June 15.
Those meetings are intended to discuss CA’s revised “self-determination” proposal for the sale of stakes in BBL clubs, while Cricket NSW is also seeking to discuss its alternative strategy for raising revenue without selling off clubs.
“We had productive discussions with several state chairs and CEOs today to ensure talks about the possible inclusion of private investment in the Big Bash Leagues remain fully aligned,” Greenberg said on Thursday.
“The timing of the news about Cricket Victoria’s intentions in the event of private investment was not ideal, but we understand their challenges.
“It is very important to restate that Cricket Australia, the States and the ACA [Australian Cricketers’ Association] all have the best interests of Australian cricket at heart, and we will continue discussions to find the best way forward.”
Nick Cummins, the CV chief executive, had earlier told this masthead that, despite formalising plans to merge the staff of the Stars and Renegades and extinguish the brands of the two clubs, the sale of the licence for the Renegades still had to be approved by the CA board and the ACA.
“First we’ve got to get the CA board’s final sign-off and then the ACA negotiation has to take place after that,” he said. “So we’re not at the point of looking at buyers or anything like that yet.”
Ross Hepburn, the Cricket Victoria chair, is currently travelling overseas. Contacted by this masthead on Thursday, he stated his view that CA “must act decisively” and proceed with their hybrid model of a phased BBL privatisation.
“CA needs to be able to reset the BBL competition and stabilise the CA finances,” he said.
“Other than an injection of private funds, no other viable option has been tabled.
“CV continues to be supportive of working with CA to achieve their goals sooner rather than later.”
New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland are the three states most hesitant about selling stakes in BBL clubs, although it was South Australia’s suggestion that a phased approach be tried.
Those states looked favourably upon the views expressed by ACA chief executive Paul Marsh this week that the process needed to be reset.
“Under the memorandum of understanding [MOU] between CA, the states and the ACA, it is clear that agreement must be reached with the ACA for any Big Bash clubs to be privatised,” Marsh said. “Whilst a potential agreement between CA and the ACA is being discussed, it is not imminent and, as such, any talk of privatising any teams for the coming season is premature.
“Cricket Victoria’s [CV] announcement about a merger between the Stars and Renegades with the introduction of a new, privately owned club has created confusion, uncertainty and anxiety amongst players. Whilst this may or may not happen at some point in the future, we reiterate that there is a process to play out here before this can occur.
“As it stands, Australian cricket is not unified on a way forward and as a result, we are a long way off a solution.”
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Daniel Brettig is The Age’s chief cricket writer and the author of several books on cricket.Connect via X.