Privatised T20 draws nearer

Auckland Aces batsman Andre Adams is bowled by Northern Knights Brad Hodge. Photo / NZ Herald

New Zealand cricket's provinces could have their Twenty20 franchises privatised within the next few years, opening up the country's summer game to more sponsorship and boosted revenues.

Chief executives have been discussing the issue but detailed planning is still needed. The favoured format is the Australian Big Bash League where, next season, each state association will hold majority ownership in each team, while around 33 per cent is expected to be sold to vetted investors (likely to be Indian companies).

New Zealand provinces could set up separate companies for their T20 teams and divvy up the shareholding with corporates and individual investors. Total private ownership - like the Indian Premier League franchises - is deemed unrealistic, at least in the medium term.

Northern Districts chief executive David Cooper has been proactive commercialising the game and wants to press forward.

"We need to take a look at it in the off-season after what has gone on in Australia. Nothing will happen in a hurry but New Zealand Cricket could employ a task force to look at it, because T20 is a vehicle capturing people's imaginations.

"The competition has commercial viability, with so many overseas players now coming across.

"Three years ago, no one would have thought that possible. Having said that, I don't want to see international cricket ranked below a T20 competition - the two can work together.

"Hopefully international cricket won't be played as much in future. Players could then spend more time at provincial level giving competitions like the HRV Cup commercial value. However, other countries need to be of the same mindset."

Central Districts boss Hugh Henderson would like to see a competition aligned more towards a New Zealand Rugby Union Super 15 franchise, based on his background as a former NZRU commercial operations manager. He does not want the ultimate objective - Black Caps international success - diluted.

"Full [sporting franchise] privatisation needs to be approached with great caution in a country the size of New Zealand. Rugby has a sensible system where the governing body [NZRU] still holds ownership.

"Other countries like India can sustain it better because they are bigger but, in New Zealand, if you've got entities separate to those running the sport, it could be detrimental. From where I sit, that is not what we're here to do."

Henderson says people looking for a case study should monitor the entry of the private equity-driven Melbourne Rebels into the Super 15.

"It is of little interest for that franchise to protect or promote players to Robbie Deans and the Wallabies. I don't think our current model needs too much tampering. The IPL and Champions League are still relatively new. Let them bed in more to see if they cope long-term."

Auckland chief executive Andrew Eade says one option is to wait for T20 to mature, or they could strike now to develop New Zealand's competition ahead of other countries. He says there needs to be an awareness of the players available.

"The international schedule comes first and there is no guarantee [like this year] franchises will have their Black Caps for the duration."

There is also the problem that Australia will move its Big Bash League to accommodate their international schedule. NZC will be obliged to follow suit if they want provinces to continue tapping into Australian player resources.

"It is a realistic aspiration and worth exploring but is probably just coffee table talk for now," Eade says.

"Franchises will remain hybrids in the medium-term until the competition gleans a bigger investment from television rights. Until then, the major associations pay too many costs to justify having 100 per cent privately-owned teams."