Pandemic knocks draft plans out of the park
CRICKET Australia has abandoned plans to rejuvenate the Big Bash with an international player draft this summer.
It had hoped the concept would allow the BBL to rekindle its glory days when it lured some of cricket’s biggest names Down Under, but the pandemic has forced organisers to pull the pin on a draft for at least 12 months.
Despite the blow, CA remains hopeful that overseas stars will still gain government exemptions to fly in for this season.
However, clubs will have to recruit players themselves, rather than via the box-office drama of a central draft.
Cricket bosses are committed to a draft for the following season and have high hopes of making it a television event, having seen it succeed for the
Indian Premier League and England’s The Hundred.
Some clubs will not be disappointed the draft hasn’t got off the tarmac, given the idea was not greeted with universal support.
Adelaide felt the draft undermined the hard work it poured into building relationships with overseas stars.
Rashid Khan has become a crowd favourite at Adelaide Oval, but a draft would only open up the prospect he could be stolen by another franchise.
However, Cricket Australia is determined to not allow the self-interest of clubs interfere with the bigger picture.
Administrators feel some BBL franchises do not bother trying to target the game’s superstars, preferring to lock in a no-frills overseas player for a full season rather than fishing for a big name who may appear for only a short stint.
TV executives at rights holders Channel 7 and Fox Sports as well as CA bosses are adamant the bigger the names the better, and feel a draft is the way to attract the top players.
One potential roadblock for getting overseas stars into Australia for this summer during COVID-19 restrictions is whether government permission to enter the country will extend to the families of the players.