Cricket Australia (CA) requested all states provide an update on their position for BBL privatisation on Wednesday, with overseas investment considered a chance to financially supercharge the competition.
CA does not see Wednesday as a hard-and-fast deadline for deciding whether or not to move forward with privatisation, rather as a chance to gauge the lay of the land.
"We are receiving responses from States to our proposal on private investment in BBL clubs and remain open to discussing any questions or concerns about this model,'' CA chief Todd Greenberg said on Wednesday.
"This process remains respectful and collaborative and with the best interests of Australian Cricket the key consideration of all involved."
NSW has been the most vocal state body warning against the plans, which would likely leave clubs funded by a mix of local and overseas investors..
CNSW fears the consequences of CA and the states rescinding control of their teams.
"You suddenly open up the involvement of external investors who will not have aligned goals with the states or Cricket Australia in terms of how they want the game to be run," said CNSW chief executive Lee Germon.
It is understood Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania would be open to privatisation to varying degrees.
Tuesday night's Queensland Cricket board meeting ended with members unable to reach a verdict, with the state to request an extension from CA.
Privatisation could proceed if the states were split on the issue, though salary-cap concerns would be among the issues a divide would pose.
"Anything that adds complexity to the cricket ecosystem ... would need to be looked at really carefully," Germon said of a mixed model.
On Tuesday, CNSW sent a report to CA and the five other state bodies floating alternative methods to financially invigorate the league.
It is understood the CNSW model would include determining whether the league's current finances were running as efficiently as possible.
Plans for maximising ticket sales, digital revenue, sponsorship and broadcast deals and wagering partnerships all form part of CNSW's thinking.
Germon acknowledged boosting gambling's presence in the game could prove controversial, especially as the federal government reforms the way the sector can advertise.
"It's a number of different items there," Germon said.
"Some will be more palatable than others, some will be more achievable than others but we believe they need to be looked at in terms of providing an opportunity to fund our way through this to develop the BBL without going straight to selling our clubs."
CNSW believes its models could be more sustainable in the long run than the admittedly considerable initial sugar-hit of privatisation.
Germon hopes CA takes its time to consider the CNSW proposal.
"My view in terms of next steps now, having shared our strategy, that we now have a chance to consider it, review it, analyse it, with the real purpose finding what is the best answer," he said.
CNSW is also in favour of pushing back the BBL to provide greater opportunities for Test players to feature.
As it stands, Australia's biggest names are either unwilling or unable to play extended time in the BBL after a taxing home Test summer.
But if the competition ran into February, Test stars could have a break before returning to the field for the latter stages of the BBL.
"Whether you get a completely clear window for BBL would remain to be seen, but I think what we need to have here is our best players playing as much of the BBL as they possibly can," Germon said.
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