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Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) is under threat after some of the country's top cricketers were tempted away to join a rival South African competition by offers of millions of dollars. The sizeable disparity between the pay packets in South Africa and Australia has now sparked new fears over the long-term viability of the BBL with its biggest stars.

As reported in The Age, Australian Cricketers' Association chief executive Paul Marsh said a few players have accepted absurd amounts, over A$ 1 million, to play in the SA20 during the January window. The highest-paid players in the current BBL receive A$ 300,000.

Much as the financial gap has affected an increasing number of players' perception about their future, an overseas league is a viable option.

Paul Marsh was also the first to concede that several Australian players are seriously considering their futures given the significant rise in earnings on offer abroad.

“Some of our players have been offered in excess of $1 million Australian to go to the SA20. When you compare that to what they’re earning in the BBL, in some cases it is five times plus. It’s definitely real, there are lots of players who are getting offered pretty significant financial outcomes to go, and there are players who are weighing that up."

He added:

“In a perfect world our players would rather stay here and play in the BBL and sign Australian contracts, but there are some realities here we’re all aware of. There are real opportunities out there. Hopefully not any, because we land on a deal that will allow us to keep our players here, that’s the goal.”

Discussions will also get underway shortly with a view to making improvements to the BBL. It is understood the board is looking to raise the salary cap to allow the BBL's biggest players to earn almost A$800,000 a year.

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Beyond better wages, the other major consideration for Cricket Australia is a restructuring of the BBL. The BBL board is believed to be evaluating the opportunities to scrap the overseas player draft and permit private investors to purchase shares in BBL teams to boost the league's financial clout.

Paul Marsh has also urged an independent inquiry if governance reforms are implemented.

“If they’re pushing down the path of a governance review, we think it should be an independent review. To work out what the best governance model is for Australian cricket, rather than a compromise deal between CA and the states. In terms of what the governance of the BBL looks like, we want to have a serious discussion around that.”

But without any significant alterations to the current model, it's been suggested that many of Australia's best players would be able to apply for No-Objection Certificates from January 2028 to participate in the SA20. The forthcoming period will be a significant time for Cricket Australia as they attempt to safeguard the BBL's future alongside key players.