Former Australian Test opener Ed Cowan has urged caution over proposals to privatise the Big Bash League, arguing that the competition does not need to rush into private ownership to remain competitive with other Twenty20 leagues.
Cowan made the comments on the ABC Cricket Podcast, according to ABC News Australia. He said fears of a player exodus to rival competitions were premature and suggested the league was already capable of attracting major cricket talent without private investment.
The discussion comes as the Big Bash League considers how it should develop in an increasingly crowded international T20 calendar. The supplied report does not detail a specific privatisation proposal, potential investors or any timetable for a change in ownership, but identifies private investment as part of the wider debate about the competition’s future.
Cowan, who is also a Cricket NSW board member, warned that privatisation could create risks if the process was not carefully managed. The feed headline quotes him describing the possibility as something that could “spiral out of control”, although the available source text does not provide further detail about the circumstances behind that warning.
The report points to the Perth Scorchers’ success as an example of the league’s established appeal. The Scorchers have won six BBL titles, including BBL15, with a combination of domestic and international players. Cowan’s central argument, as presented by ABC News Australia, is that the BBL’s ability to attract high-profile talent means pressure for immediate privatisation may be overstated.
The available material does not state whether Cricket Australia, the BBL clubs or other governing bodies have adopted a position on the issue. It also does not identify which players Cowan believes demonstrate the league’s existing drawing power. His comments instead focus on the pace and potential consequences of structural change, with the ABC report presenting privatisation as an issue requiring scrutiny rather than an established decision.