Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa has signed a two-year deal with the Hobart Hurricanes ahead of the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season, emphasizing the need for greater financial recognition for domestic players amid recent changes to the league’s player payment structure.

The 34-year-old, a dual World Cup winner and established white-ball talent, finalized his contract on Wednesday following a prolonged period during which the Australian Cricketers’ Association sought improved remuneration for leading Australian white-ball players such as Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, and Glenn Maxwell. Cricket Australia’s recent elimination of the overseas player draft and removal of mandatory international signings by clubs were intended to give Australian players a larger share of teams’ salary caps. However, many top Australian players had already committed contracts for the 2024-25 season before these reforms, limiting immediate pay increases.

Zampa acknowledged the ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations and expressed that overseas players continue to receive comparatively higher compensation despite the structural changes. “I think the overseas players are still getting the good end of the deal,” he said, while affirming his commitment to remain in the BBL this season. He noted that once the contract embargo lifted, he quickly decided to join Hobart and was enthusiastic about his new club, highlighting the opportunity to play alongside friends Nathan Ellis and Tim David as a motivating factor.

Efforts by some clubs to acquire contracted Australian players like Marcus Stoinis from the Melbourne Stars and Sean Abbott from the Sydney Sixers have thus far been unsuccessful due to these existing agreements. Zampa said he never seriously considered opting to play in rival T20 leagues overseas, focusing instead on the domestic competition.

He also viewed the high-profile signings of overseas players such as Ben Stokes by the Adelaide Strikers and the expected addition of Finn Allen to the Melbourne Stars as positive developments for the league’s growth. Nevertheless, Zampa suggested that the recent decision by Cricket Australia to allow privatisation of BBL clubs could be a pivotal factor in enabling both top international stars and Australian players to command higher salaries in the future.

Zampa’s move to the Hurricanes represents one of the early confirmations in this year’s BBL player market amid ongoing shifts in the league’s approach to player contracts and salary distribution.