Big Bash League side Sydney Thunder GM Nick Cummins believes expanding the BBL into Asia "is a better option than including a New Zealand team," according to the NEW ZEALAND HERALD.
The '15-16 edition of the domestic Twenty20 tournament "has been hailed as a raging success" attracting over a million people. TV audiences "also spiked for BBL05 with an average of 1.103 million tuning in to the Network Ten broadcasts," up 18% on the previous year.
While Big Bash hierarchy "ruled out adding a new franchise to the eight-team tournament before the expiration of the current television deal" -- which finishes at the end of the '17-18 season -- the tournament is growing at an exponential rate. While New Zealand has been put forward as a potential site for the ninth license, Cummins believes that Hong Kong and Singapore "are better options."
Cummins: "I think Hong Kong and Singapore are really good ideas because that's going to significantly grow the TV audience. I'm not convinced on New Zealand. ... Something like Hong Kong or Singapore would be a pretty bold move" (NZ HERALD, 1/26).
