The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has received a proposal to host the Big Bash League (BBL) opener in Chennai, according to an official statement.
A delegation from Cricket Australia (CA) met with TNCA officials earlier this month to explore the possibility of staging the BBL opener at Chepauk in December. The delegation included two BBL representatives and one CA official, namely Phil Rigby, Head of Business Operations, and Margot Harley, Head of Competition Development and Strategy.
Currently, the TNCA is awaiting a response from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). As of February 17, there has been no approval from the BCCI, and a final decision is expected after considering the overall context. The BCCI has not yet replied to the TNCA.
“We are aware of our jurisdiction and have passed the matter to the BCCI. We informed the Australian delegation that the plan requires BCCI approval to proceed. The decision is now in the hands of the BCCI,” a TNCA official said.
This move by CA aims to enhance the BBL’s profile and tap into the lucrative Indian market, with plans to sell at least two of the eight franchises.
At this time, it’s unclear which franchises might play in India if the BCCI approves the plan. However, the Perth Scorchers are likely to be among them due to their time zone alignment and the Western Australia Cricket Association’s (WACA) interest in potential offers from Indian businesses for franchise sales.
