A Big Bash League domestic cricket game in December will underpin a week-long Australian festival in India.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he hosted a visit by Indian PM Shri Narendra Modi in Melbourne earlier this week.
The Melbourne Renegades are to play Perth Scorchers on December 12 at Chennai’s 38,000 seat MA Chidambaram Stadium as the cornerstone event of a week-long business, cultural and sports festival in India, called G’Day Namaste, the leaders say.
In a statement, Cricket Australia’s general manager for the league, Alistair Dobson, says the Big Bash’s popularity in India is underestimated.
“We’re hugely excited by the opportunity. We expect the match will be the most-watched game in Australian domestic league history for any sport,” he says.
He says the TV audience in India for Big Bash matches last summer was 50% higher than for that of the Ashes tests.
“Our sport has such an authentic connection in India,” Dobson says.
MORE THAN A BIG CRICKET BASH
Albanese says the role of sport between the two countries is recognised.
“We recognise that in both our countries sport is a serious business as well,” Albanese said at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday (July 10).
“That’s why PM Modi and I are here to launch a roadmap for sport collaboration between Australia and India to strengthen our longstanding partnership.”
Modi says he was “extremely delighted” that a Big Bash League match will be held in Chennai.
“For any sporting league, staging an event in
India guarantees tremendous reach and viewership.”
Albanese says: “Australia and India are united by our love and passion for sport.
“This sports roadmap will focus on practical priority areas such as capability building, technology and research to strengthen this cornerstone of our bilateral relationship.”
Modi pointed out that India will host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 at Amdavad and wants to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
“Preparing for these global sporting events requires the creation of sports infrastructure on a massive scale.
“This means that in the years ahead we will have many opportunities to learn from one another and work together,” he says.
Albanese says the week-long festival will be spearheaded by a senior Business Council of Australia delegation.
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