Glenn Maxwell has issued a warning to Big Bash League franchises as they prepare for a bumper season following two COVID-19-plagued editions.
The BBL 2022-23 season will begin on December 13. The tournament’s governing body has made several changes, including the introduction of a draft system for the first time.
Glenn Maxwell on IPL teams
Many foreign cricketers have signed up for the competition and found a franchise in the league. Maxwell believes that, throughout the competition, local Australian talent should be highlighted instead.
According to Maxwell, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is gradually taking over the global T20 franchise leagues.
“I think the next step is making sure that our local players are taken care of because we are going to see these leagues take over at some stage. We are going to see the IPL teams, who have got their hands in different competitions around the world, we are going to see them take over. It could end up being a bit like (LIV) golf – I could see it sort of heading that way,” he said.
Cricket Australia (CA) currently owns the competition, and state associations manage its operations. This is in stark contrast to the IPL, where the teams are privately owned. The Indian cash-rich league’s franchise owners have recently made some significant acquisitions. IPL team stakeholders own three of the six franchises in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the International League T20 (ILT20). In addition, IPL franchise owners purchased all six SA20 franchises.
Additionally, Maxwell warned that the BBL risked being overtaken by the growing number of international competitions if it did not watch its step.
“If the BBL is not careful, it could get overrun by the amount of cricket that’s going on around the world and it’s going to be hard to compete with because the IPL teams are just so powerful,” he added.
The International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) now includes a special two-and-a-half-month window for the IPL. This further establishes their dominance over the cricketing world.
