The Australian Cricketers’ Association has indicated that players may not participate in a privatised Big Bash League unless a financial settlement with Cricket Australia is finalised. The two parties remain at odds over how players should be compensated when BBL teams are sold to private investors, with no agreement currently in place.
Under the current arrangement between the ACA and Cricket Australia, players receive 27.12 per cent of CA’s revenue. The ACA is demanding that players receive the same 27.12 per cent share of the amount that Cricket Australia receives after selling teams to private investors. ACA Chief Executive Paul Marsh outlined the union’s position on this fundamental disagreement.
“I think to understand that it’s probably worth just sort of understanding what our current agreement with Cricket Australia looks like and from our position we believe the players are actually entitled to that 27.12 per cent of any proceeds from privatization,” Marsh said as quoted by Wisden.
Cricket Australia has rejected this model, viewing privatisation proceeds as distinct from standard revenue streams. This fundamental disagreement has created a stalemate in negotiations between the two organisations.
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What alternative arrangement has the ACA proposed?
Marsh outlined an alternative arrangement that the ACA would accept if Cricket Australia refuses to share privatisation proceeds with players. The union is prepared to forego its claim on the capital raised from team sales if that money is converted into a higher share of ongoing BBL revenue.
“So I think it’s important, if that’s your starting point, what we’ve said all the way along is that we are prepared to forego that share of the proceeds but it needs to then be converted into a higher share of ongoing revenue. We think that’s a win-win,” Marsh said.
“Cricket Australia at the moment is not on that page, but if we need to press forward with a share of the proceeds, then we will do that. But I think that the better model is to give Cricket Australia the states that opportunity to spend that big amount of money up front and then for the players to be benefiting going forward. “So, look, like every negotiation, there’s always areas of compromise and we’re certainly up for that. Our position really hasn’t progressed because of this fundamental difference around whether the players should get a share of the proceeds or not,” he added.
The Melbourne Renegades became the first BBL team put up for sale in September 2026, with franchise valuations expected to reach approximately A$200 million. The ACA expects capital raised from these sales to be treated as shared cricket revenue, a position that remains contested by Cricket Australia. Negotiations between the ACA and Cricket Australia have stalled over this core disagreement, with the union currently seeking arbitration to resolve the impasse.
