Australia too small to host premier league tournament

A leading player agent believes Australia could not sustain its own version of the Indian Premier League because the market is too small. The Australian Cricketers' Association is dreaming of an Australian Premier League, but Neil Maxwell, who has Brett Lee in his management stable and is the chief executive of the Kings XI Punjab franchise, said only England and India were in a position to develop the big events.

A smaller population combined with less opportunity for major broadcast and sponsorship deals limits the possibility of a stand-alone venture in Australia. "India and England are the only two markets that can sustain franchise tournaments," Maxwell said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "[England has] the revenue, they have the pay TV and the population.

"Let's not beat around the bush, the major revenue is going to come from the television rights and then sponsorship helps too, but in Australia's case the sponsorship is also weaker. You have to have consortiums who are prepared to invest in the tournament, and they will do it for the money, for the profit, and it's going to be very different to India because of that lack of competition for the television rights."

Another idea that has emerged since the IPL began is having an Australian team in the league, which Cricket Australia will consider. However, Maxwell told the paper Australia would be better off benefiting from their players, which were their "biggest asset". "Cricket Australia should probably try to set up a deal with the organisers to receive transfer fees," he said. "So if someone ends up buying an Australian player they [Cricket Australia] are rewarded for producing that player."