The Business of Cricket by cricexec

The ETPL has launched, but can it survive without TV revenue? Two cricket journalists break down the commercial reality of the new franchise league.
Nathan Johns and Peter Della Penna join Zee Zaidi, cricexec Founder and Publisher, to explore the launch of the European T20 Premier League, questioning its financial viability without broadcast income or deep local engagement. The panel also unpacks the ECB's decision to veto the Euro Nations Cup and the ICC's structural changes to the ODI World Cup pathway, asking whether T20 is actually the right format to grow the game in associate markets.
Nathan Johns is a cricket journalist covering the Ireland and UK area. Peter Della Penna is a cricket journalist covering American and Associate circles.
The cricexec newsletter goes to senior executives across the cricket industry each week. Subscribe: [link]

Chapters
00:00 The ETPL launch and franchise economics
06:31 Local market engagement and the MLC comparison
21:11 The ECB's veto of the Euro Nations Cup
34:19 The ICC's changes to the ODI World Cup pathway
51:26 Format viability: Can T20 actually grow associate markets?

Topics covered — ETPL franchise economics — European cricket expansion — ECB regional strategy — Euro Nations Cup — ICC World Cup pathway — Associate cricket development
cricexec covers the business of cricket for the people who run it. Reporting, analysis and the annual Global Power 100.
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#cricket #ETPL #AssociateCricket

In this episode of The Business of Cricket podcast by cricexec (episode 13), Ravichandran Ashwin sits down with cricexec’s Zee Zaidi for a wide-ranging conversation that goes far beyond cricket.

Ashwin reflects on the role of failure in shaping success, sharing why setbacks — not achievements — have been the most important lessons of his career. He opens up about his early challenges, the influence of his father as a mentor, and how sport became a foundation for discipline, problem-solving, and personal growth.

The discussion explores themes that resonate equally in business and life — from sustained performance and passion-driven work to leadership, mentorship, and the importance of letting go. Ashwin also offers insight into his post-playing journey, including his role as an ambassador for the game, his approach to entrepreneurship, and why joy — not money — drives his decisions.

Blending personal stories with thoughtful perspective, this episode is a deep dive into mindset, resilience, and what it truly means to keep evolving — on and off the field.

Leadership in Cricket is the series of The Business of Cricket Podcast that talks to players and coaches the way you'd talk to any high-performance leader — because that's what they are. Each episode is an in-depth conversation with a current or recent international player, captain, or head coach, focused not on technique or tactics but on the leadership questions that sit underneath them: how to set culture in a dressing room, how to make decisions under enormous pressure, what failure has taught them, how they think about authority, accountability, and identity in a career measured in public. It's a sports leadership conversation built for an executive audience.

USA Cricket CEO Johnathan Atkeison sat down with cricexec earlier this week for an in-depth interview on one of the most contentious governance debates in the organization’s history.
In a detailed 50-minute conversation, Atkeison walked through the rationale behind a set of constitutional amendments recently passed by USA Cricket’s membership—changes that sparked heated debate within the U.S. cricket community and an ongoing lawsuit against the board.
The interview comes days after USA Cricket confirmed that members had approved the new amendments, which are designed to align the organization with U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) governance standards—a critical step in USA Cricket’s bid to obtain official National Governing Body (NGB) status in time for cricket’s debut at the LA 2028 Olympics.
ABOUT CRICEXEC
Cricket’s only trade publication. We cover the industry off the field -- the people, organizations, and deals that drive the sport.
To read the latest industry news: https://www.cricexec.com
Subscribe to us on YouTube to get more great content!
Follow us on all other social platforms: @cricexec
Subscribe to our free "daily briefing" newsletter, delivered every weekday and read by top executives throughout the industry: https://www.cricexec.com/subscribe/

In today's episode of Business of Cricket Podcast, Zee sits down with Andrew Breetzke, CEO of the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) and Board Member of the World Cricketers' Association, to discuss a major controversy in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) regarding late or missing player payments. Andrew highlights the broader risks threatening franchise leagues worldwide—corruption and financial instability—and explains how due diligence, player associations, and governance can help address these issues.
The conversation delves into the rapid rise of franchise leagues, the financial sustainability of the cricket economy, and the ICC’s role (or lack thereof) in regulating the global cricket calendar. With insights on the SA20’s success and the challenges facing smaller cricket boards, this is a must-watch discussion for anyone interested in the future of the game.
ABOUT CRICEXEC
Cricket’s only trade publication. We cover the industry off the field -- the people, organizations, and deals that drive the sport.
To read the latest industry news: https://www.cricexec.com
Subscribe to us on YouTube to get more great content!
Follow us on all other social platforms: @cricexec
Subscribe to our free "daily briefing" newsletter, delivered every weekday and read by top executives throughout the industry: https://www.cricexec.com/subscribe/

Shane Watson is on a mission to change how the cricket world thinks – by revealing the secrets to his success.
He was one of the most technically skilled all-rounders of all time, but when he was on the verge of retiring, he discovered an approach to the mental side of playing which revolutionized his game.
Over the next four years, thanks to these new skills, Shane had some of the best performances of his life – including his legendary undefeated 117 off 57 in the 2018 IPL final to win it for CSK.
Since retiring, Shane has been sharing this mental skills approach with some of the sport’s biggest stars as the current head coach for the MLC’s San Francisco Unicorns and the PSL’s Quetta Gladiators.
But now Shane is sharing his performance secrets with the whole world.
He published a book called the Winners’ Mindset [as well as an online course] that details his approach and also helps readers apply his simple frameworks to turbocharge their own performances.
The world’s best cricketers swear by it – including Faf Duplessis, Rachin Ravindra, and Ricky Ponting among many others
And Shane also just released the Winners’ Mindset online course on his website, shanewatson.au – an interactive multimedia experience that enables users to easily learn and use these mental skills to elevate their own games.
Shane joined our business of cricket podcast to talk about his career, mental skills, and a whole lot more.
ABOUT CRICEXEC
Cricket’s only trade publication. We cover the industry off the field -- the people, organizations, and deals that drive the sport.
To read the latest industry news: https://www.cricexec.com
Subscribe to us on YouTube to get more great content!
Follow us on all other social platforms: @cricexec
Subscribe to our free "daily briefing" newsletter, delivered every weekday and read by top executives throughout the industry: https://www.cricexec.com/subscribe/