CA back skipper Cummins' BBL-free schedule
Cricket Australia insist they have no issue with Pat Cummins playing overseas Twenty20 leagues while skipping the Big Bash, adamant the Test captain has struck the right balance in his schedule.
Cummins and Australia's front-line quicks will again miss this summer's BBL, thanks largely to there only being a small - two-week - gap between the end of Australia's home Tests and a tour of Sri Lanka.
The pace ace has not featured in Australia's premier Twenty20 tournament since February 2019, having effectively signed a marketing deal with the Sydney Thunder last summer.
In the past year, Cummins has played in both the Indian Premier League and the USA's Major League Cricket, before being rested from internationals in England ahead of the home summer.
But CA chairman Mike Baird said he had no issue with Cummins' missing the BBL, noting that it was more about schedule than anything else.
"I don't think anyone could say anything other than that Pat gives 100 per cent to Australian cricket and every part of it," Baird said.
"He is a role model that any sport, business or organisation would love to have.
"The fans want to see him at every opportunity, of course they do. There is a balance that is required in terms of some of those opportunities.
"Pat makes personal decisions, but I can tell you that his heart, soul and mind is how he can support and continue to play for all Australians.
"It is something we have to consider, but with someone like Pat there are detailed discussions. And we work together in terms of the schedule year-round."
Baird's comments came as BBL expansion was again put on the agenda this summer by Cricket ACT.
Chief minister Andrew Barr pledged $3 million per year towards a Canberra franchise if his government win this weekend's ACT election, pushing for a team from 2026-27.
Cricket ACT officials also plan to tour the country this summer, making their case to other states and the game's bosses.
CA remain open to the proposal, with expansion having been first discussed last year and the capital territory widely-viewed as the most logical location for a ninth franchise.
"It's fantastic to see the interest. I really appreciate the government's (interest), and importantly it is supported by the opposition as well," Baird said.
"There is a real sense from the ACT that they want to participate. Love the interest and passion, we will obviously consider anything that is put forward to us.
"Expansion is something we will consider. It has to be sustainable and make sense for our fans and in the strategic sense long-term.
"We want to provide more opportunities for our players to play in the best leagues, and expanding is something we would seriously consider as part of that."
