Cricket Australia has approved private investment in BBL and WBBL, as a result of which the Melbourne Renegades are now up for sale.
Melbourne Renegades to be up for sale
On September 8, Cricket Australia confirmed that 100 per cent stakes of the Melbourne Renegades would be up for sale. They would invite bids from private owners for the same.
The 2026/27 seasons of the BBL and the WBBL will remain unaffected by this. A report in cricket.com.au confirmed that the CA will operate the Renegades in “caretaker mode”. The new ownership will be in place in both leagues from the 2027/28, though it is not clear whether the club will retain its name.
Even as the Renegdes is sold, CA will continue to have “constructive discussions” with the states and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.
Once the Renegades licence is sold, Cricket Australia will consider the sale of the other BBL and WBBL clubs under a “self-determination” model that will allow each state to make its own decision on whether to sell their clubs and if yes, when.
Among the other clubs, the Melbourne Stars, Hobart Hurricanes, and Perth Scorchers have already expressed interest in private investment, while the Sydney Sixers and Thunder, Brisbane Heat, and Adelaide Strikers are all “reluctant to proceed with private investment at this stage”.
Even if some or all clubs are sold, CA will still maintain control over international scheduling, player availability, salary caps, branding proposals, and media rights as well as the “power to approve or veto potential investors and set the reserve price that must be achieved”.
Renegades will play the opening games of both the WBBL and the BBL in 2026/27. They will host the Thunder for the WBBL opener in Melbiurne on October 29, while their BBL opener, against the Scorchers, will be played in Chennai.
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