Indian Premier League

The richest T20 league in the world is the prestigious Indian Premier League. The lucrative tournament commenced in 2008 and has completed fifteen successful seasons. The competition is open to up to 10 teams. The players receive substantial compensation for representing their respective franchises. The IPL awards winners with a hefty USD 2,696,258 in prize money.

The Big Bash League

The Big Bash League is a franchise cricket league by Cricket Australia (CA). In Australia’s premier T20 tournament, 8 teams have competed for the championship. The Big Bash League champion team receives the third highest prize money globally at USD 450,000.

T20 Blast

The world’s oldest and first professional T20 competition is called the T20 Blast, also known as the “Vitality Blast”. It is a professional Twenty20 cricket league for the top counties in England and Wales. It was launched in 2003 and had completed 20 seasons since. This league has as many as eighteen clubs participating. A prize of USD 236,127 is awarded to the league winner.

Pakistan Super League

After the IPL, the PSL is the most followed T20 league globally. Seven editions of Pakistan’s very own franchise cricket tournament have been completed. Since the 2016 PSL, up to six teams have competed in the competition. The Pakistan Super League winner gets USD 505,000 in prize money – the second highest globally.

Caribbean Premier League

By bringing in the Caribbean flavour, several West Indies cricketers have contributed to the excellent quality of T20 leagues globally. Playing across multiple T20 leagues worldwide, West Indian players are especially popular in T20 cricket. Launched in 2013, the CPL has six participating teams. The winner is awarded USD 429,799.

Bangladesh Premier League

In 2012, the Bangladesh Cricket Board launched the Bangladesh Premier League as its own franchise T20 competition. It has become one of the country’s most lucrative T20 leagues since. The Bangladesh Premier League is one of Bangladesh’s three professional cricket tournaments. With up to seven clubs competing, the league champion receives USD 236,099 in prize money.

Lanka Premier League

The Lanka Premier League is the brand-new T20 tournament created by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). It debuted in 2020. The league has up to six teams. The Premier League has commenced and successfully completed three editions so far. The Sri Lanka Premier League event winner receives a USD 100,000 prize.

Afghanistan Premier League

Like other countries, the Afghanistan Cricket Board established the Afghan Premier League – a franchise-based, Twenty20 league. Held in the United Arab Emirates, the competition has up to five participating teams. The prize money for the winner is $300,000 USD – more than the prize pools of the T20 Blast, LPL and BPL.

SA20 League

Cricket South Africa (CSA) launched the SA20 League – a franchise-based Twenty20 competition. Fans flocked in large numbers to watch the entertainment-filled Twenty20 tournament. Six franchises representing locations across the country are vying for the title. Sunrisers Eastern Cape were the victors in the SA20 League’s debut season.

UAE International League T20

It is not well known that the United Arab Emirates has its own franchise-based Twenty20 league – the International League T20 tournament. There are up to six competing teams. Each squad can have up to nine overseas players, with the remaining spots for UAE’s local talent. The Gulf Giants emerged triumphant in the 2023 inaugural event.

The Big Bash League (BBL) has become one of the top T20 cricket leagues globally. It attracts fans with fast-paced matches, lively entertainment, and star players. Franchises want the strongest teams, so they spend big on players at BBL auctions. This article reviews the most expensive BBL players ever.

D’Arcy Short – Hobart Hurricanes, 2018-19 Season, AUD 900,000

In 2018-19, D’Arcy Short made headlines as the costliest BBL player ever. The Hobart Hurricanes acquired the talented left-hand batsman for AUD 900,000. Short had already proven his explosive batting in the BBL. His ability to attack bowlers with powerful strokes made him extremely valuable. The Hurricanes’ substantial investment in Short paid off, as he continued delivering match-winning performances, demonstrating the importance of aggressive batsmen in T20 cricket.

Ben McDermott – Hobart Hurricanes, 2018-19 Season, AUD 420,000

In the same auction where D’Arcy Short set a record, his Hobart Hurricanes teammate Ben McDermott also fetched a high price of AUD 420,000. This reflects their desire for a potent batting unit. McDermott’s skill at anchoring the innings and accelerating when required greatly benefitted the Hurricanes. Their faith in him was evident through this spend.

Glenn Maxwell – Melbourne Stars, 2013-14 Season, AUD 1 Million

Australian player Glenn Maxwell is hugely popular in T20 leagues globally. BBL franchises have also coveted him, with Melbourne Stars acquiring him for AUD 1 million in 2013-14 – the first-ever BBL player to command that price. Maxwell, renowned for his flamboyant batting and handy off-spin, was instrumental for the Stars. His ability to change games with bat and ball demonstrated the value of versatile players in T20 cricket.

Daniel Sams – Sydney Thunder, 2020-21 Season, AUD 320,000

In 2020-21, Sydney Thunder made a big splash by buying all-rounder Daniel Sams for AUD 320,000. Sams became one of the costliest players that season due to his batting power and bowling skill. His aggressive left-arm pace and hard-hitting lower-order batting were huge assets. Thunder’s investment in Sams paid dividends as he was integral to their title win.

Chris Lynn – Brisbane Heat, 2014-15 Season, AUD 125,000

Chris Lynn, nicknamed “Lynnsanity,” has always excelled in the BBL. His explosive batting makes him a fan favorite. In 2014-15, Brisbane Heat acquired him for AUD 125,000 – making him among the highest-paid then. Lynn’s boundary-hitting ability and quickfire starts were invaluable for the Heat. He continued starring for them in subsequent seasons.

Jofra Archer – Hobart Hurricanes, 2017-18 Season, AUD 1 Million

In 2017-18, BBL franchises took notice of English fast bowler Jofra Archer. Hobart Hurricanes signed him for AUD 1 million – deploying his searing pace and wicket-taking ability. Archer’s BBL displays made him globally famous, exemplifying the league’s power to attract elite international stars.

David Malan – Hobart Hurricanes, 2020-21 Season, AUD 129,000

England’s top-ranked T20I batsman David Malan entered the BBL in 2020-21. Hobart Hurricanes acquired him for a relatively modest AUD 129,000. Malan’s assured batting made him difficult to dismiss, boosting the Hurricanes lineup. He performed admirably, demonstrating BBL’s popularity in attracting quality international players.

Rashid Khan – Adelaide Strikers, 2017-18 Season, AUD 1.4 Million

Afghanistan’s ace spinner Rashid Khan has made a massive impact in T20 leagues. His BBL influence has been equally substantial. In 2017-18, Adelaide Strikers signed him for a record AUD 1.4 million for an overseas BBL player. Rashid’s guile and wicket-taking ability significantly bolstered the Strikers’ bowling. His performances were instrumental to their title win, underlining the value of quality spinners in T20 cricket.

Cricket Australia (CA) has pledged to conduct a comprehensive review following the abandonment of the BBL 2023 match between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers due to a perilous pitch. In a statement issued a day after the incident, CA acknowledged the dangerous conditions and affirmed its commitment to thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding the unsafe pitch.

According to Cricket Australia, adverse weather conditions, particularly rain in the days leading up to the game, had affected the pitch at GMHBA Stadium. Ground staff diligently worked to address the situation, receiving the umpires’ approval for the pitch to be considered safe for play. However, in the seventh over, the umpires made the critical decision to abandon the game, citing foreseeable risk to the players’ safety due to uneven bounce.

As a result of the abandonment, each team involved in the match will receive one point, and fans will be refunded the cost of their tickets. The statement emphasized CA’s commitment to thoroughly reviewing the circumstances that led to the abandonment, expressing understanding for the disappointment experienced by both fans and players.

The incident marks the first instance in the history of the BBL where a match had to be called off due to an unsafe pitch. However, it echoes a previous occurrence in Australia in 2019 when a Sheffield Shield competition match between Victoria and West Australia was abandoned after two players sustained head injuries due to dangerous bounce. This recent incident has prompted CA to address the issue promptly, ensuring the safety of players and upholding the integrity of the game in future BBL fixtures.

The highly-anticipated Big Bash League encounter between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers took an unexpected turn in Geelong on Sunday, as the match was abandoned due to safety concerns over the pitch.

The turning point occurred in the seventh over of the innings, bowled by Will Sutherland of Renegades. Three deliveries, all pitching at similar lengths, exhibited unpredictable bounce, beating Scorchers’ batsman Josh Inglis on each occasion, prompting a cause for concern.

In consultation with the two captains, Aaron Finch and Nic Maddinson, the umpires made the decision to halt play. After conferring with the match referee off the field, the umpires returned to officially announce the abandonment of the game.

Following the incident, Aaron Finch expressed his disappointment, citing the impact of the previous day’s heavy rain on the pitch conditions. “We had so much rain yesterday, it’s just unfortunate. A few things happening that were slightly dangerous,” Finch remarked during the official broadcast.

This incident is a reminder of similar instances in international cricket history, such as Sri Lanka’s One-Day International against India in 2007 at Feroz Shah Kotla, which was abandoned due to an unsafe pitch. Another notable case occurred in 1998 when the Test match between England and West Indies at Sabina Park in Jamaica was abandoned after just 11 overs due to unfavorable pitch conditions.