Big Bash League season opener to be played in India

[p]The ‌December 12 match between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/melbourne-stars/MPk7NTBN/"]Melbourne[/a] Renegades and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/perth-scorchers/UgkXNmRT/"]‌Perth[/a] Scorchers in Chennai will make the domestic Australian Twenty20 ‌competition the first foreign franchise league to play ‌in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mumbai-indians/2eZPzJH2/"]India[/a].[/p][p]"[b]I am excited to expand cooperation with India on sport, which not only brings joy to Australians ‌but boosts trade, tourism and investment[/b]," ⁠Albanese said on the ‌final day of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit ​to Australia.[/p][p]The announcement comes amid opposition to private investment in the BBL, which critics ​say could lead to the tournament ceding control to Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.[/p][p]Wealthy IPL owners have bought ⁠franchises in England, ​South Africa, the U.S., West Indies and United Arab Emirates.[/p][embed guid="df1bc90f-7aa5-4235-a7f9-529b0ebd6d16" url="https://x.com/ragav_x/status/2075428320427028694" social-type="twitter" /][p]Cricket Australia hopes to open up the BBL to private investment to boost its finances and ‌improve competitiveness in T20 cricket.[/p][p]The governing body reported a net deficit of A$11.3 million ($7.86 million) for the 2024-25 financial year despite a jump in revenue from hosting the lucrative Border-Gavaskar series against powerhouse India.[/p][p]Australian players are in high demand in the IPL, and BBL franchises have welcomed the move to stage next season's league opener in India.[/p][p]"[b]Our ‌sport has such an authentic connection in India[/b]," ​Cricket Australia's General Manager of BBL Alistair Dobson said ‌in a statement.[/p][p]"[b]We're hugely excited by the opportunity and we expect the match will be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport.[/b]"[/p]