BBL: Stars, Renegades set to merge

Cricket Victoria is set to merge the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades into a single Big Bash League franchise based in the region. 

The new team, set to be named after the city of Melbourne, has not finalised on a fixed name yet, but will play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and is set to sport navy blue, the original colours of the parent club. 

As reported by Austalian outlet SEN, Cricket Victoria has committed to selling its second license entirely. Sources close to the club confirmed the happenings of high-level discussions on the topic, stating that the second franchise license will be sold as soon as possible. The exact timing of the process is out of the hands of Cricket Victoria, with there not being any plans on what is to be done if the sale does not go through. 

Sources also added that the ten contracted players in each franchise will form the core of the new franchise, with uncertainty over the future of the non-contracted players at both teams. As further reported, players have not been informed of the developments taking place, but the respective staff were informed of the happenings by the afternoon of June 2.

A few players told the aforementioned source that they were shocked and frustrated that they had not been informed of the developments alongside the staff members. It was further reported that James Rosengarten, the GM of the Renegades, will reprise his role as the new GM of the Melbourne team.

This decision comes amid larger discussions in Australia over the opening of franchise ownership to private investors. In an unprecedented move, the opening game of the season is set to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, in a bid to add more visibility to the Australian game.

As further reported, a significant high-level meeting is set to take place, which would further outline Cricket Australia's plans for BBL privatisation.