Melbourne's two Big Bash League sides – the Stars and the Renegades – are set to merge into a single Twenty20 franchise, but the move has sparked "confusion, uncertainty and anxiety" among players.
Cricket Victoria's plan unveiled Wednesday will see the Melbourne Stars retained by the state governing body but rebranded and the Melbourne Renegades sold entirely to private investors.
It follows the stalling of a Cricket Australia proposal in April to privatise partially Twenty20 league's eight teams to shore up the game's financial future, which failed to secure unanimous agreement.
Cricket Victoria was in favour, but governing bodies from New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia had reservations.
A hybrid ownership model was suggested as a compromise and Victoria has pushed ahead, reportedly blindsiding the other states who have demanded an emergency meeting with Cricket Australia.
"Basically what we're looking to do is merge the Stars and Renegades brands, that will free up one license," Cricket Victoria chief Nick Cummins told Fox Sports on Thursday.
"And our intention is to sell that license to a private investor at 100 percent – title ownership, change the name. And then have another team that is owned by Cricket Victoria and would represent Victorian cricket."
Cummins said there had been interest from local investors but also from the United States, Europe and Asia with a deal potentially completed in time for the new season in December.
But the move has sparked a backlash with players and other states caught by surprise.
The Australian newspaper said the sport was on the verge of "all-out civil war".
Renegades players impacted include Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa while the Stars' big names include Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.
The Australian Cricketers' Association argued the merger plans were premature.
"Under the Memorandum of Understanding between CA, the states and the ACA, it is clear that agreement must be reached with the ACA for any Big Bash clubs to be privatised," chief executive Paul Marsh said in a statement.
"Whilst a potential agreement between CA and the ACA is being discussed, it is not imminent and as such, any talk of privatising any teams for the coming season is premature."
Marsh added: "Cricket Victoria's announcement about a merger between the Stars and Renegades with the introduction of a new, privately-owned club has created confusion, uncertainty and anxiety amongst players."
Cricket Australia has been vocal about the need to bring outside investment into the BBL to keep pace with a boom in other well-funded T20 leagues played in a similar time slot.
But NSW and Queensland are concerned about a loss of control for the game's local custodians and that player payments could skyrocket to unsustainable levels.