Cricket Australia prioritises BBL as Marsh, Short must wait for SA20 clearance

Cricket Australia has confirmed that star all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short will only be granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the SA20 after completing their Big Bash League (BBL) commitments in January.

The decision means both players will remain available for their respective BBL franchises before joining their South African T20 League teams later in the season. Marsh is set to represent Sunrisers Eastern Cape, while Short will link up with Pretoria Capitals once their domestic obligations have been fulfilled.

The move underlines Cricket Australia’s commitment to protecting the Big Bash League by ensuring its leading players prioritise the country’s premier domestic T20 competition before participating in overseas franchise leagues.

With the global T20 calendar becoming increasingly crowded, national boards are placing greater emphasis on balancing player workloads while safeguarding the strength and commercial value of their domestic tournaments.

The decision is expected to impact the early stages of the upcoming SA20 season, with both franchises having to begin their campaigns without two of Australia’s most experienced white-ball cricketers. However, Marsh and Short are expected to join their respective squads immediately after completing their BBL commitments, strengthening Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals for the remainder of the tournament.