Cricket: Major associations reluctant to sell out of domestic game

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Auckland are not alone among New Zealand's major associations in having reservations over proposals to take the domestic game to private investors.

Among the items in plans to significantly overhaul domestic cricket is the option of putting up to 49 per cent of franchises in outside hands.

Auckland Cricket have made clear they aren't keen on a hasty approach to changing the structure of cricket.

Now Northern Districts have indicated they, too, have a cautious attitude to the issue, and at least one other major association is understood to have similar reservations.

ND chief executive Peter Roach said there is a perception the domestic game is broken.

"We don't share that belief," he said.

"Domestic cricket has one very important role and that's to produce very good international players, and certainly from an ND point of view we believe we're doing okay in that regard."

He pointed to New Zealand's improved world standing and argued that on a per capita basis "you have to say New Zealand is punching above its weight significantly. We are on an upward trend so the system can't be totally broken".

Roach acknowledged there are areas such as the profile of domestic cricket which are a concern.

"We don't think we should be sitting on our hands saying domestic cricket is achieving every goal it should be. But do we think private investment is the answer at ND? It's not something that's at the top of our tree at present.

"We haven't said no it should never happen. Just that it's not a priority for us."

Roach said growing commercial returns for the game is clearly vital, but ND believe that is possible without going down the private investment route.

At least one other major association besides ND and Auckland is understood to have similar reservations.

NZC had sought feedback on proposals, which was to be back with the national body by last Thursday.

NZC is known to be keen to push down the privatisation path, but whether it will, or can, or would want to, insist on it is another matter.

There is a board meeting on June 12 but it is thought more likely a substantial discussion would take place at the July 17 meeting.

Major association chairmen and chief executives are meeting in Auckland on June 11.

A reasonable train of events would have their thoughts going back to NZC's general manager of domestic cricket David Cooper, perhaps with a revised proposal then being returned to the associations for further assessment.

In the end, given that the World Cup will dominate the New Zealand landscape next summer, it may be thought prudent to sit tight, dot i's and cross t's with a view to revisiting the review of the domestic game, with the key elements fine tuned, for the following summer.