Indian cricket great Ravi Ashwin has emerged as a potential BBL poster boy after becoming a free agent

Ashwin – one of the all-time giants of world cricket – has announced himself as a franchise cricket free agent now that he has retired from the Indian Premier League and therefore outside the jurisdiction of the all-powerful BCCI.

If Ashwin, 38, was to come to the BBL, he would arguably rate as the biggest overseas name to come to Australia since Kevin Pietersen and Chris Gayle and with the ability to unlock the massive Indian expat community, he might prove an even greater drawcard and influence on TV audiences.

The timing of Ashwin’s bombshell announcement is perfect from a Big Bash perspective, with Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg to sit down with state cricket bosses as well as Australia’s star players in Brisbane to discuss the merits of a landmark switch to privatising the BBL.

India bans all its cricketers from playing in rival T20 leagues so the opportunity to bring Ashwin to the Big Bash is rare and may further spur administrators into opening the gates for private investment in the competition.

“I think yesterday’s announcement (from Ashwin) is another indicator that the game is changing significantly,” Greenberg said at a press conference in Sydney on Thursday urging junior cricketers to sign up ahead of the biggest summer on record.

“I said this last time, I’ll say the same thing again, it’s incumbent on us as leaders of the game to challenge the way the game is governed and controlled. That won’t please everybody but we have to keep looking forward we have to get our eyes up and think about how the game will change and what part we will have on that.

“It either changes on you or with you. And we’re pretty determined to try to make some changes that we can have a level of control for Australian cricket. Yesterday’s example is another indicator that the game is changing.”

Australian Test star and IPL regular Josh Hazlewood admitted he was stunned Ashwin had retired from the IPL given his prowess and said he would make a massive impact on the new vision for the BBL.

Hazlewood believes Ashwin will be the first of many Indian stars who may choose to separate themselves from the BCCI for opportunities on the global circuit.

“Yeah I’m surprised to see him retire form IPL. Even last year and I know definitely the few years before that in Rajasthan he was still one of their best bowlers and every time we came up against him he was hard work,” Hazlewood said.

“He has unbelievable variations and we’ve seen in Test cricket as well. Any player of that caliber is only going to improve another competition.

“I think we’ll see it (Indians playing around the world) more and more. Just the sheer amount of players that are in India and playing such a high level, and only so many spots in Indian teams and then IPL teams – there’s got to be someone out there who is keen to get on the franchise train you could say.”

An independent report has urged Cricket Australia to embrace privatisation of the BBL and while no official decisions have been made, there is a sense of inevitability about the path CA wants to take.

However, not all State cricket bodies are convinced and next week’s meetings in Brisbane could be critical in ironing out a united vision for the game.

Australian players will be gathered in Brisbane next week as well and will be briefed by Cricket Australia bosses on where the BBL plans currently stand.

Ashwin’s proclamation that he wants to travel the world playing T20 cricket could be compared to when soccer greats Alessandro Del Piero and Dwight Yorke came to Australia.

It wasn’t necessarily about the money but about the experience at that stage of their illustrious careers.

Ashwin has made a fortune from the game, achieved its highest accolades particularly in Test cricket, and now wants to expand his wings outside India.

“They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today,” Ashwin said on X.

“I would like to thank all the franchises for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years and most importantly the IPL and the BCCI for what they have given me until now.

“Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me.”

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To fit Ashwin into this summer’s Big Bash, the only option might be as an injury replacement player with the draft already run and done.

However, Cricket Australia would be mad if it didn’t look into any way they could attract Ashwin this summer, even before privatisation kicks in.

For an Indian name this big, Cricket Australia could consider a captain’s call, where they negotiate with Ashwin directly and separate to the clubs for the overall good of the competition.