BBL is expect to change contact regulations to ensure overseas players’ participation in finals. Contract negotiations may include improvements such as providing extra security to overseas players outside the draft.
In a bid to retain overseas cricket talents for future BBL finals series. Cricket Australia is due to speak with BBL clubs over potential changes to contracting laws. This move comes after six overseas players are set to miss the finals due to obligations in the UAE’s lucrative ILT20 tournament. Which coincides with the BBL competition’s final round-robin week.
Despite a strong BBL season. Which saw a 27% increase in average attendance and numerous matches with audiences over 40,000 for the first time since 2017-18. Administrators are mindful of coming issues. The Melbourne Renegades’ average attendance increased by 63%, demonstrating the team’s growing popularity.
Contract negotiations, which are likely to be a focus point in end-of-season talks once the embargo period expires. Might involve measures such as providing more security for overseas players outside the draft. Suggestions from Brisbane Heat’s Sam Billings include looking into multi-year contracts to provide more certainty when discussing arrival dates with competing leagues.
“This year, we’ve witnessed the role that overseas players continue to play in the BBL. They have been outstanding on the field, are popular with fans, and are well-like by announcers. However, we must continue to evolve our competition and make it interesting to players to participate in the BBL. And, ideally, [having] them play as many games as possible has been and will continue to be a clear goal for us,” BBL boss Alistair Dobson told ESPNcricinfo.
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The 2018 BBL season will feature a more compacted schedule, eliminating the Perth Test break, with the goal of attracting overseas talent for additional matches. In a spectacular season for the BBL, Brisbane, who finished first, had a 45% increase in average attendance ahead of the grand final qualifier versus the Sydney Sixers on the Gold Coast. Perth’s attendance increased by 35%, while Melbourne’s increased by 39%. The improvements will try to increase the league’s appeal and maintain its increasing trend in fan engagement.
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