Top Australian cricketers may leave the BBL for SA20 by 2028 due to salary disparities. The influx of Pakistani stars like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has raised BBL wages, but SA20 could offer even higher pay.
Key points
Top players are frustrated with salary disparities in T20 leagues.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan's arrival has raised BBL wages.
SA20 could offer higher salaries than the BBL.
Pat Cummins, David Warner, and Glenn Maxwell are the highest earners in BBL.
BBL faces growing SA20 threat after signing Babar Azam and Rizwan
In the next two seasons, Australiaâs biggest T20 league might see a massive exodus of talent due to increasing financial rivalry among the franchise leagues.
According to reports in , there is growing concern that the Big Bash League (BBL) may no longer be able to provide its cricketers financial security in comparison to the rival South African league, SA20, that keeps attracting top talent through shorter formats and increased remuneration.
Q&A
Why are Australian cricketers considering leaving the BBL for SA20?
Australian cricketers are frustrated with the salary disparity between the BBL and other T20 leagues, particularly SA20, which may offer higher wages.
Who are the top earners in the BBL among Australian players?
Pat Cummins, David Warner, and Glenn Maxwell are the highest-paid Australian players in the BBL.
How has the arrival of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan affected BBL salaries?
The presence of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has contributed to increasing player wages in the BBL, but it may not be enough to compete with SA20 salaries.
What could happen to the BBL if salaries do not improve by 2028?
If Cricket Australia does not enhance BBL salaries, some Australian stars might prioritize playing in SA20 over the BBL by 2028.
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This was further emphasised by the recent addition of the two Pakistan stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to the BBL.
The 2025-26 period revealed that Babar pocketed about AUD 270,000-320,000, putting him among the most expensive foreign imports of the BBL. Mohammad Rizwan, also a Platinum-category cricketer, is estimated to have bagged approximately AUD 270,000.
BBL raises salaries for Australian stars but still trails rival T20 leagues
In terms of the salary packages for top Australian players, the BBL has made considerable progress in the past few years.
However, the Aussies were still not the top-earning players last year. Overseas stars were the most expensive players in each team, earning more than local stars.
Former CA chief executive Malcolm Speed pointed out this concern, saying:
"Thereâs a premium for international players in the BBL â they get about AUD 100,000 more than the top Australian players," Speed told SEN. "Get rid of that. The Australians deserve to be paid as much as everyone else."
Pat Cummins had previously mentioned on the Business of Sport podcast that if salaries do not improve relative to the cricket world's finances, Australian players may start looking for alternatives - away from the national team and the BBL.
âFor example, during the Hundred this season, weâve got two Test matches against Bangladesh. All our guys that will play in that Test match have opted out of going to the Hundred auction, but thatâs not going to be the case forever.
âSome of our guys are saying no to half a million pounds for 20 daysâ work to go and play those two Test matches against Bangladesh. I think it is a tension point. At the moment, our guys are so keen to play for Australia that theyâre happy to forgo that, but I donât think we can accept that that is going to be the case forever."
Why SA20 is becoming a major threat to the BBL
While there is no doubt that the main strength of SA20 lies in its lucrative nature, convenience could easily be its second greatest selling point.
With a compressed calendar, the league offers international cricketers a chance to earn big while saving a good part of their year. Additionally, with direct IPL franchise investment, the league has greater financial security than ever and an improved global image.
From the perspective of Australian cricketers, the league seems like an easy choice. While offering top-notch competition and increased exposure along with the promise of a generous pay packet, the league doesnât ask for the physically draining commitment of playing an entire BBL season.
In contrast, the BBL continues to face scheduling issues, as Australiaâs Test cricketers often miss long stretches of the season due to national commitments, affecting both the leagueâs star power and consistency.
The Cricket News Opinion: 2028 could become a turning point for Australian cricket
The reason why there is an emphasis on 2028 is because the existing ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), which ends in 2027, will have to be renegotiated by the cricketing boards within the new franchise-dominated environment.
There is already apprehension about the space left for bilateral cricket in light of increasing T20 leagues and extended IPL windows. This may increase the appeal of T20 franchises, such as SA20, to Australian players.
Australia wonât be bereft of cricket before 2028, with the 2025-26 Ashes and the Test tour of India in 2027, as well as ICC tournaments such as 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup.
What worries, therefore, isnât the absence of cricket before 2028 but what happens after 2028 when the present FTP agreement expires and franchise leagues prove more lucrative and less taxing than bilateral cricket.
Additionally, the 2027-28 season will see Australia play lower-profile Test series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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