Cricket Australia could exploit a COVID-19 loophole to lure big names to BBL outside of salary cap

Cricket Australia has given themselves unprecedented powers to pay six-figure sums to players outside the BBL salary cap who they deem worth the investment - and there could be some pretty impressive talent on offer.

Caribbean stars such as Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder could earn up to $200,000 for a cameo appearance in the Big Bash this summer under an audacious plan to pay overseas players outside the salary cap.

COVID-19 travel restrictions have compromised Cricket Australia’s bid to boost the star power of the tournament, however, the scheduling of a West Indies tour of New Zealand in late November gives BBL administrators a golden chance to try and lure the Calypso Kings across the ditch – quarantine free – via the trans-Tasman travel bubble.

Cricket Australia are set to announce each BBL club will receive an optional 19th spot on their roster, which can only be used to sign either marquee overseas names, or a home-grown superstar like Steve Smith or David Warner.

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Dwayne Bravo could be an attractive target for teams.

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Overseas players deemed by powerbrokers to be top tier, would be paid entirely outside the salary cap – two thirds by Cricket Australia, and the other third out of the players’ association payment pool – with stars to be offered six-figure contracts anywhere between $100,000-$200,000.

But if the floating 19th roster spot was to be used for an Australian international, they would not receive extra CA money, only the portion from the players’ association – although to assist clubs, it would still sit outside the salary cap.

Theoretically CA’s new war chest will be used to tempt overseas stars from anywhere in the world, but in the COVID-19 environment it could make sense for clubs to target some of the West Indies’ finest, with many stars reluctant to submit to two weeks in quarantine on top of a lengthy competition.

The new trans-Tasman bubble allows travel between New Zealand into NSW and it shapes as a potential loophole CA could exploit to get some big name Windies or Kiwi drawcards.

Global superstars Chris Gayle and Andre Russell are not in the squad to tour NZ, but IPL game-breakers like Pooran, Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Shimron Hetmyer – as well as super-talented Windies Test captain Jason Holder – are all be viable targets.

Pooran plays alongside Australian T20 wizard Glenn Maxwell at Kings XI Punjab and as well as peeling off consistent runs, made one of the most extraordinary outfield saves ever seen early in the IPL.

Nicholas Pooran is having himself an excellent IPL.

It’s understood Cricket Australia will be asked to put the names of potential overseas signings to government officials soon to help with securing travel exemptions should they arrive.

The world’s top-ranked T20 batsman, Dawid Malan (Hobart), top-ranked T20 bowler Rashid Khan (Adelaide) and the top-ranked all-rounder, Mohammad Nabi (Melbourne Renegades), have all signed on for the BBL, in a major boost for the talent depth of the competition, however, it’s understood none of those players have been signed using the exclusive 19th roster spot outside the salary cap.

Cricket Australia would have the right to veto any name put forward by clubs for the exclusive 19th spot, should they deem they’re not a big enough name to warrant the extra cash investment.

Originally published as Cricket Australia could exploit a COVID-19 loophole to lure big names to BBL outside of salary cap