Updated April 30, 2026 — 1:10pm , first published 10:44am

A Cricket Australia plan to sell off stakes in all eight Big Bash League clubs for 2027 is effectively dead after NSW and Queensland opposed the privatisation plan, leaving an uncertain path forward for the game.

Queensland Cricket informed CA chair Mike Baird and chief executive Todd Greenberg on Wednesday that the state was joining NSW in rejecting the plan, in particular arguing against a further rise in player payments.

Steve Smith celebrates a record-equalling third Big Bash century earlier this year. Getty Images

“We have informed Cricket Australia that we will not be moving to the next phase of the sales process.…