BBL looks to expand presence overseas with Asian countries in fray

Nick Hockley, the CEO of Cricket Australia, has indicated that the Big Bash League is preparing to expand internationally, specifically targeting Asian countries. With support from the government, Cricket ACT, the organisation that oversees cricket in the Australian Capital Territory, has stated its intention to enter the league with a team in 2026–2027.

At least one New Zealand franchise is also anticipated by the league. Additionally, sides from the north and south of the island could be included. The league is interested in enlisting Asian nations, which is Hockley’s most important disclosure.

Right now, we’re working hard to figure out what that would entail, whether it involves teams in New Zealand or even more broadly, around Asia. We should strive to expand and make our fantastic proposal available to as many individuals as we can.

The BBL can and should, in my opinion, be the world’s second-largest T20 competition.

“The Indian Premier League is a true powerhouse,” Hockley stated on SEN.

I believe that people are getting together more in Asia-Pacific: Nick Hockley

Hockley stated that Asian nations may also be linked to BBL if a compelling commercial case could be made. Malaysia and other Asia-Pacific countries have made notable for hosting women’s international cricket matches. Singapore and other nations continue to be viable choices.

“It is dependent on various factors. Are there new players in those regions? Do they get new admirers? Does it have a market, too? It is obvious that the NRL has decided that there are. This is happening with India; there is a touch of soft diplomacy and a unifying force amongst nations. I believe that more and more individuals are getting together in the Asia-Pacific region or with Oceania tournaments. Thus, it’s undoubtedly something we’ll investigate further,” he continued.