Sydney, Dec 31 (IANS) Cricket Australia (CA) is planning to turn Big Bash, its premier domestic Twenty20 tournament, into an Indian Premier League (IPL) like extravaganza.
The Big Bash has been a huge success in its opening week and the CA has been buoyed by impressive television ratings and large crowds it has drawn to the stands.

CA chief executive James Sutherland said that the national body was looking to give Big Bash a stand-alone timeslot in the Australian summer of cricket.

“Our long-term planning has a way to go but I could see the time come when the KFC Big Bash has its own summer time window so that we can bolster it even further by having our Test and one-day international players available for interstate Twenty20 duties,” Sutherland was quoted as saying by the Australian media.

“The inclusion of overseas stars such as Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Shahid Afridi is making this season’s contest a bigger bash, so to speak.”

CA is also planning to set up a franchise-style competition like the IPL.

CA is also happy with the recently released television ratings for the Big Bash. The ratings were up 37 per cent in the first week of matches, as well as drawing excellent crowds to matches in Brisbane, Perth and Hobart.