If reports are to be believed Cricket Australia may have been a big blow as South African cricketer and World T20 hit, AB de Villiers has backtracked from participating in next seasons Big Bash T20 League.
There were earlier reports that AB de Villiers has shown interest in taking part in the Big Bash League for 2019-20. His interest was major boost for the Cricket Australia that has been trying to market league in big way. Now the latest report of ABD showing no interest has cast a major cloud over how Cricket Australia will satisfy its broadcast partners in the search for marquee talent to sell the competition.
As per report in ESPNcricinfo it has been learned that de Villiers has now flagged to interested clubs his unwillingness to take part in the BBL, having realised the degree to which CA and the BBL were looking towards him as a panacea for the tournament’s plateaued television ratings and match-by-match attendances, amid its rapid growth from eight games per team to 14 each – a full home-and-away schedule.
Up to this point, CA, the clubs, and the broadcasters – Fox Sports and Seven – had appeared set to put together a package deal worth as much as A$350,000 to land de Villiers for a segment of the tournament, though there was a level of disquiet about how such a deal could be struck without an equitable system being in place for all clubs to secure big names, report further said.