Australia batsman Usman Khawaja says the country’s Big Bash League (BBL) needs to open up to private ownership if it is to survive in an undeniably jam-packed market for T20 cricket content.

The BBL, which runs from December to early-February 2023, will clash with South Africa’s new six-group T20 competition beginning in January.

Indian Premier League (IPL) team owners purchased all of the six establishments in the South African association however the BBL’s eight teams are claimed by governing body Cricket Australia and run by state affiliations.

A new league in the United Arab Emirates, additionally owned by IPL cash, is planned to take off in January, making way for extreme fights for the world’s top players.

Khawaja said the BBL faced a “fork in the road” over the next year or two as competition heats up.

“There’s a lot of cogs that make the decisions but personally you shouldn’t be afraid of moving the game forward even if that means that you let go a little bit on the reins, there are other tournaments starting up that are privatised. If you don’t keep up with that, and there’s a small window for the Big Bash to privatise in the next few years, and I’m afraid if we don’t do that we’ll fall behind.”

Khawaja told reporters on Friday.

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Various top players have been named for the BBL’s debut draft, including star Afghan spinner Rashid Khan and West Indian T20 stalwarts Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo.

Be that as it may, Khawaja said others were staying away.

“I’ve talked to a couple and they’ve not listed me for the draft because they want to spend Christmas at home and then will go and play in the UAE. That’s a red flag for me already.”

he concluded