Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Feb 17: The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) has confirmed receiving a proposal to host the opening match of the Big Bash League (BBL) in Chennai this December.
A delegation from Cricket Australia (CA), comprising two BBL representatives and one CA official, met TNCA office-bearers in the city last week to discuss the possibility of staging the season opener at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, popularly known as Chepauk.
TNCA officials said they have conveyed the proposal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), making it clear that the matter falls under the board’s jurisdiction. “Without BCCI approval, the plan cannot move forward. The ball is in the BCCI’s court,” a TNCA official said.
If approved, the match would be played in December. However, as of Tuesday (February 17), the BCCI had not communicated its decision to the TNCA and is understood to be assessing the broader implications before arriving at a final call.
Australian media outlet SEN reported that the proposal is part of a wider strategy to strengthen ties with the Indian market ahead of a likely sale of at least two of the BBL’s eight franchises. The Perth Scorchers are expected to be one of the teams considered for the Chennai fixture, given the favourable time difference between Western Australia and India. The Scorchers are also the defending champions, making them natural contenders for the season opener, although the BBL does not traditionally open with the previous season’s winners as the IPL does.
One potential hurdle could be the presence of Pakistani players in participating teams. While the Scorchers do not currently have any Pakistani cricketers in their squad, the opposing side could. Securing Indian visas for Pakistani players has historically been challenging.
Seven Pakistani players featured in the previous BBL season, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Zaman Khan, Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan.
The proposal now awaits a final decision from the BCCI.