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Mint
14 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
T20 cricket: Inside the race for the next billion-dollar league
Bengaluru: On 25 May, Zimbabwe's 39-year-old all-rounder Sikandar Raza made headlines, but not just because he scored the winning runs for Lahore Qalanders in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Less than 24 hours earlier, he had been in Nottingham, donning Test whites for his country and fighting a losing battle against England at Trent Bridge. His frantic transcontinental double-duty isn't just a curiosity; it is emblematic of the T20 cricket era we live in, one where jet lag is a minor inconvenience in the face of opportunity. Raza's back-to-back assignments across formats and continents capture the breakneck expansion of the global T20 ecosystem. As of mid-2025, there are 17 active T20 leagues around the world. This year will see the debut of the European T20 Premier League, a tri-board venture from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, backed by Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan. If 2008 was the birth of the franchise era, 2025 might go down as the year it became a full-blown arms race. The stakes are rising. In February, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) concluded the sale of stakes in all eight franchises of The Hundred, raising £975 million and valuing the four-year-old 100-ball competition at nearly $1.3 billion. In March, reports surfaced of Saudi Arabia exploring a 'global league" to disrupt and reorganize cricket's fragmented calendar. April brought news of New Zealand Cricket acquiring part-ownership in a Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise in the US, a first for any board. Leagues that once seemed insular and region-focused are now recalibrating. The PSL is considering expanding from six to eight teams. Australia's Big Bash League (BBL) is weighing privatization. What was once an experimental format for a sport has become its primary engine of growth: commercially, culturally, and strategically. Yet, even with valuations and ambitions soaring, there remains a collective acknowledgement of the elephant in the room: the Indian Premier League (IPL). With an estimated value of $16.4 billion, the IPL is not just number one, it's in a league of its own. The pressing question is no longer who can catch up, but rather, who can carve out a definitive second place. A strategic asset Australia was a reluctant convert to T20 cricket, its traditionalist leanings wary of what this shorter format would do to the skills and sanctity of Test cricket. But the BBL's launch in 2010 changed that conversation. BBL general manager Alistair Dobson tells Mint. 'It was founded on an insight that cricket in Australia was becoming less and less relevant for kids and younger Australians. It was a strategic insight that said, 'if we don't do something, then cricket is going to attract a narrower market'." Former New Zealand fast bowler and cricket commentator Danny Morrison, now a Queenslander, describes the BBL as a league that was 'slow to the party". During telephonic and in-person conversations with Mint, Morrison recalled the late cricketing legend Shane Warne's contribution to the league's rise. He says, 'Warne had retired after IPL 2011, and then he came back in 2013-14, and there was a whole razzmatazz around Warnie coming back, mic'd up, bowling to Brendon McCullum, and telling commentators what he was going to do, and doing it the next ball. Incredible." Cut to 2025, by popular consensus, the Cricket Australia-owned BBL would be right up there, leading the race for the number two spot. Sources told Mint that the BBL has all the fundamentals of a 'solid league" and that, should it hit the private market, it could 'easily fetch a valuation upwards of $2-3 billion." They pointed to the league's ability to draw large crowds and 'occupy the Australian sporting summer" as a compelling investment case. Unlike the IPL, the BBL does not include privately-owned franchises. The teams are owned and operated by Cricket Australia and its members—state associations such as Cricket New South Wales and Cricket Victoria. The BBL's Dobson says the league has outgrown its startup phase, and is now a mature product with second-generation fans. 'It's been a pretty interesting 15 years—some rapid growth in the first seven seasons, then a period of consolidation, and now maturity. The past three seasons have been incredibly rewarding. Covid knocked us down a little, but we've had good growth year-on-year, our crowds are getting back up to 22-23,000 per game on average and some big crowds of over 40-50,000." He adds, 'Broadcasters want big crowds, sponsors want big crowds, and the players want to play in front of big crowds. The starting point for us is always: what do we need to do to get more people into the game?" Cricket Australia says Big Bash is Australia's 'most watched sports league on a per-game basis" with average attendance for its most recent BBL edition growing 20% year-on-year to 770,000 viewers nationally." This is particularly significant because, unlike India, where the IPL (and cricket) has a free run over sports viewership, Australia's sports broadcast market is fiercely competitive, with rival sports leagues such as the Australian Football League (AFL) and the National Rugby League (NRL). Which then begs the question, why is the BBL not private yet? The answer is a touch complex, given that it has, over its 15-year history, dipped its toes in the private market at least twice, if not thrice. However, it eventually set those ideas aside. 'It's encouraging for us that there's interest from different organizations in getting involved with the Big Bash. The important thing for us is that the strength and success of the league means it is an important asset for Australian cricket," Dobson adds. In simpler terms, that means using the profits from the BBL to invest in the most foundational levels of Australian cricket: the grassroots, the pathways, and development programmes. At the broader level, the BBL faces stiff competition from South Africa's three-season-old SA20, where IPL teams own all the franchises. The person quoted above says, 'There is a battle to own the winter calendar, and South Africa has shown its ability to attract the top players and deliver an equally strong league," pointing to a potential vulnerability. Pair that with the high taxes that Australia levies, and a slightly different picture emerges. The ILT20 in the UAE, which lacks the crowds seen elsewhere, makes up for it with tax-free income for players and a good winter break with family. Beating saturation In the Northern Hemisphere, Vikram Banerjee is a busy man. As the managing director of the ECB's The Hundred competition, Banerjee has presided over one of the more consequential phases for English cricket in recent years. The 100-ball competition, a further evolution of the T20 format, is what England is betting its franchise-based league ambitions on, with more than an assist from billionaire IPL franchise owners, private equity funds, and Silicon Valley technology honchos. 'The Hundred has done brilliant things, in terms of what it's done in this country, how it's grown the sport, brought families in, how it's redefined, to an extent, women's sport. That allowed us to see that the ceiling for this tournament is sky high," Banerjee told Mint over a Microsoft Teams conversation in early May. 'The opportunity that we have is to take the tournament for what it has done today, to compete with the IPL, and the best sports products that exist in the world." If Australia's pitch is that of leveraging cricket as a 'strategic asset", The Hundred wants to lean into England's appeal in the annals of the game. 'We have the stadiums. We have a product that seems to be resonating with a fan base that is already there," he says. 'You combine that with August, when not many people can play cricket or sport globally, and a time zone advantage. You play at 3 pm on a Saturday in England, that's dinner time in India, and lunch time in America. It means it can be around the world," Banerjee adds. To get ahead of the pack, The Hundred is counting on three major pull factors. One, bring the best players in the world, which is where he reckons, 'eighteen leagues is one too many, because so many of these best players cannot play 400 days a year. It doesn't work." Two, sound commercials. And three, building a connection. 'You need to be able to either create or have a fan base. England, today, has the second-highest fan base for cricket in the world, at around 14 million people." All of this, Banerjee reckons, gives The Hundred a strong case. 'The Venn diagram of these three elements is what leagues that are going to succeed will deliver," he adds. Satyan Gajwani, vice chairman of Times Internet Ltd (TIL) and part of the Nikesh Arora-led Silicon Valley consortium that will own The Hundred's London Spirit franchise, told Mint that investors will 'start engaging more meaningfully to impact the 2026 season." However, he adds, 'We are excited to be partners with the Home of Cricket at Lords, and will look to grow the franchise and The Hundred to a new level." The American league This time last year, the US was preparing to co-host the 2024 T20 World Cup, which the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team eventually won. But even before big-time international cricket arrived on its shores, the US was plotting its coup in the global T20 ecosystem with Major League Cricket (MLC). In a way, the most intriguing contender is also the most unconventional. The six-franchise league, with four teams either fully or partially owned by IPL franchises, had just concluded its first full season (2023) and earned $8 million in revenue, exceeding expectations. However, by the time the second season began, the league had experienced significant tailwinds. The US national cricket team, mainly comprising South Asian immigrants, had shocked the world in its backyard, by defeating Pakistan in last year's T20 World Cup and advancing to the next stage. It was a big statement. So much so that some of cricket's biggest stars, including Australia's World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins, the centurion in the World Cup final, Travis Head, and teammate Glenn Maxwell signed up for the competition. It was no coincidence that they chose the US. After all, it is the home of global professional sport, with a market valued at over $87 billion. Cricket, however, is targeting a very focused delta of 5-10 million people, primarily those of South Asian descent, who are also among the highest per-capita earners in the country. Gajwani, also a co-founder of the MLC, states that the league was 'certainly in the top five leagues in the world," but in reality, 'there's a large gap between the IPL and everyone else." He outlines the MLC's goals and prospects as 'unique", given that it is the 'only league operating in a market where cricket isn't yet an established sport". However, he adds, 'The US is the largest sports market in the world, with a wealthy and passionate local existing fanbase, and with the most global tailwinds behind it. So, in terms of growth potential, it's probably the highest." To this end, the league appointed cricket administration veteran Johnny Grave as its chief executive officer earlier this year. Grave had previously led Cricket West Indies for nearly seven years. 'I think that's exciting, because he is a mover and shaker, knows how the business operates; he's a great operator, and he loves the game," says Morrison. The tournament, which has primarily been hosted at the Grand Prairie in Texas and North Carolina's Morrisville, will see the addition of two venues this season—Oakland, California, marking professional cricket's debut on the West Coast and in Silicon Valley. The league says the nine matches at the Oakland Coliseum will contribute $3 million to the local economy. It will also head to Miami during the competition's penultimate week, with a double header on the Fourth of July. This comes right on the heels of the 2028 Olympic Games, which Los Angeles will host, and where cricket will mark its re-entry after over a century. Which also means an additional focus on infrastructure, and another potential venue in LA. 'Over the coming years, we should see new stadiums mushrooming across the country. These are critical to growth and unlocking more fans," Gajwani adds. The natural selection era With newer leagues mushrooming and the fragmentation of the global T20 ecosystem, cricket will likely move into an era of 'natural selection," as The Hundred's Banerjee puts it. That proliferation of leagues has led to a sort of tiering within the ecosystem, with the IPL on top, followed by the BBL, The Hundred, SA20, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Major League Cricket. The third tier includes the UAE's ILT20, the BPL, and the Lanka Premier League. 'Each of these leagues today, to be successful, is chasing the same cricket fan, the same set of players, and I don't see how that is sustainable, and I feel men's cricket is at a point where it is hitting saturation," says Banerjee. The billion-dollar valuation may be a milestone, but the real prize is something more profound: relevance in a rapidly evolving sporting world. And as Sikandar Raza's weekend adventure shows, that world never sleeps.
The Advertiser
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Australia A call-up follows summer of redemption for Wallsend Tigers junior
Jason Sangha thought his first-class career was over. But, after a summer of redemption which culminated in a starring role to help South Australia win the Sheffield Shield final in March, the Wallsend Tigers junior has earned an Australia A call-up. The 25-year-old was part of a 16-player squad named on Monday to play five matches - three one-day fixtures and two four-day exchanges - against Sri Lanka A in Darwin in July. Sangha's international call-up came after a break-out campaign with South Australia, where he finished the season with 704 runs at 78.22 from just six games. The elegant right-hand bat scored one of three centuries in 2024-25 on debut for South Australia. Sangha then entered South Australia sporting folklore in March by hitting the winning runs in a knock of 126 not out as the Redbacks completed a record final chase against Queensland to secure the Sheffield Shield title for the first time in 29 years.. The performance came a year after being told by NSW he was no longer required. "I thought my career was over," Sangha told media at the time. "South Australia gave me a second chance. I owe them everything, really. They have saved my career." Sangha also topscored for Sydney Thunder in the 2024 BBL final, which was won by the Hobart Hurricanes. The former Australian under-19 captain, who scored his maiden first-class century playing for Cricket Australia XI against a touring England team as a teenager, was signed by Thunder at just 16 but recently committed to the Adelaide Strikers for the next two BBL campaigns. Six years after playing his last Test for Australia, Kurtis Patterson has been given another chance to stake his claim for an unlikely international comeback as one of several big names to headline the Australia A squad. Nathan McSweeney will feature after playing three Tests last summer before losing his spot at the top of the order, while Matt Renshaw was also named. "We've picked a balanced squad which provides a number of options, which we expect will be required over the course of the series," chief selector George Bailey said. "Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson have all had dominant Sheffield Shield seasons and earned the opportunity to test themselves against international opposition. "Additionally, there is a strong presence of emerging talent in the squad who will benefit from playing alongside senior players including Nathan McSweeney and Matthew Renshaw, who bring substantial experience at 'A' level." AUSTRALIA A SQUAD TO FACE SRI LANKA A: Sam Elliott, Matt Gilkes, Bryce Jackson, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Jack Nisbet, Mitch Perry, Kurtis Patterson, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald. Meanwhile, Newcastle teenage cricket prodigy Caoimhe Bray has earned a rookie contract with the NSW Breakers for the 2025-26 Women's National Cricket League. The Denman product, who now lives in Adamstown, capped a break-out year when she was called into the Breakers squad last December. The 15-year-old all-rounder made history in October when she became the youngest person to ink a WBBL contract, signing a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers. Bray made a dream WBBL debut by hitting the winning runs in the Sixers' opening victory over eventual champions Melbourne Renegades on October 27. She also played for Australia at the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in January. Bray is one of three Newcastle cricketers named in the Breakers squad alongside spinners Samantha Bates and Sienna Eve. Jason Sangha thought his first-class career was over. But, after a summer of redemption which culminated in a starring role to help South Australia win the Sheffield Shield final in March, the Wallsend Tigers junior has earned an Australia A call-up. The 25-year-old was part of a 16-player squad named on Monday to play five matches - three one-day fixtures and two four-day exchanges - against Sri Lanka A in Darwin in July. Sangha's international call-up came after a break-out campaign with South Australia, where he finished the season with 704 runs at 78.22 from just six games. The elegant right-hand bat scored one of three centuries in 2024-25 on debut for South Australia. Sangha then entered South Australia sporting folklore in March by hitting the winning runs in a knock of 126 not out as the Redbacks completed a record final chase against Queensland to secure the Sheffield Shield title for the first time in 29 years.. The performance came a year after being told by NSW he was no longer required. "I thought my career was over," Sangha told media at the time. "South Australia gave me a second chance. I owe them everything, really. They have saved my career." Sangha also topscored for Sydney Thunder in the 2024 BBL final, which was won by the Hobart Hurricanes. The former Australian under-19 captain, who scored his maiden first-class century playing for Cricket Australia XI against a touring England team as a teenager, was signed by Thunder at just 16 but recently committed to the Adelaide Strikers for the next two BBL campaigns. Six years after playing his last Test for Australia, Kurtis Patterson has been given another chance to stake his claim for an unlikely international comeback as one of several big names to headline the Australia A squad. Nathan McSweeney will feature after playing three Tests last summer before losing his spot at the top of the order, while Matt Renshaw was also named. "We've picked a balanced squad which provides a number of options, which we expect will be required over the course of the series," chief selector George Bailey said. "Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson have all had dominant Sheffield Shield seasons and earned the opportunity to test themselves against international opposition. "Additionally, there is a strong presence of emerging talent in the squad who will benefit from playing alongside senior players including Nathan McSweeney and Matthew Renshaw, who bring substantial experience at 'A' level." AUSTRALIA A SQUAD TO FACE SRI LANKA A: Sam Elliott, Matt Gilkes, Bryce Jackson, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Jack Nisbet, Mitch Perry, Kurtis Patterson, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald. Meanwhile, Newcastle teenage cricket prodigy Caoimhe Bray has earned a rookie contract with the NSW Breakers for the 2025-26 Women's National Cricket League. The Denman product, who now lives in Adamstown, capped a break-out year when she was called into the Breakers squad last December. The 15-year-old all-rounder made history in October when she became the youngest person to ink a WBBL contract, signing a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers. Bray made a dream WBBL debut by hitting the winning runs in the Sixers' opening victory over eventual champions Melbourne Renegades on October 27. She also played for Australia at the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in January. Bray is one of three Newcastle cricketers named in the Breakers squad alongside spinners Samantha Bates and Sienna Eve. Jason Sangha thought his first-class career was over. But, after a summer of redemption which culminated in a starring role to help South Australia win the Sheffield Shield final in March, the Wallsend Tigers junior has earned an Australia A call-up. The 25-year-old was part of a 16-player squad named on Monday to play five matches - three one-day fixtures and two four-day exchanges - against Sri Lanka A in Darwin in July. Sangha's international call-up came after a break-out campaign with South Australia, where he finished the season with 704 runs at 78.22 from just six games. The elegant right-hand bat scored one of three centuries in 2024-25 on debut for South Australia. Sangha then entered South Australia sporting folklore in March by hitting the winning runs in a knock of 126 not out as the Redbacks completed a record final chase against Queensland to secure the Sheffield Shield title for the first time in 29 years.. The performance came a year after being told by NSW he was no longer required. "I thought my career was over," Sangha told media at the time. "South Australia gave me a second chance. I owe them everything, really. They have saved my career." Sangha also topscored for Sydney Thunder in the 2024 BBL final, which was won by the Hobart Hurricanes. The former Australian under-19 captain, who scored his maiden first-class century playing for Cricket Australia XI against a touring England team as a teenager, was signed by Thunder at just 16 but recently committed to the Adelaide Strikers for the next two BBL campaigns. Six years after playing his last Test for Australia, Kurtis Patterson has been given another chance to stake his claim for an unlikely international comeback as one of several big names to headline the Australia A squad. Nathan McSweeney will feature after playing three Tests last summer before losing his spot at the top of the order, while Matt Renshaw was also named. "We've picked a balanced squad which provides a number of options, which we expect will be required over the course of the series," chief selector George Bailey said. "Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson have all had dominant Sheffield Shield seasons and earned the opportunity to test themselves against international opposition. "Additionally, there is a strong presence of emerging talent in the squad who will benefit from playing alongside senior players including Nathan McSweeney and Matthew Renshaw, who bring substantial experience at 'A' level." AUSTRALIA A SQUAD TO FACE SRI LANKA A: Sam Elliott, Matt Gilkes, Bryce Jackson, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Jack Nisbet, Mitch Perry, Kurtis Patterson, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald. Meanwhile, Newcastle teenage cricket prodigy Caoimhe Bray has earned a rookie contract with the NSW Breakers for the 2025-26 Women's National Cricket League. The Denman product, who now lives in Adamstown, capped a break-out year when she was called into the Breakers squad last December. The 15-year-old all-rounder made history in October when she became the youngest person to ink a WBBL contract, signing a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers. Bray made a dream WBBL debut by hitting the winning runs in the Sixers' opening victory over eventual champions Melbourne Renegades on October 27. She also played for Australia at the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in January. Bray is one of three Newcastle cricketers named in the Breakers squad alongside spinners Samantha Bates and Sienna Eve. Jason Sangha thought his first-class career was over. But, after a summer of redemption which culminated in a starring role to help South Australia win the Sheffield Shield final in March, the Wallsend Tigers junior has earned an Australia A call-up. The 25-year-old was part of a 16-player squad named on Monday to play five matches - three one-day fixtures and two four-day exchanges - against Sri Lanka A in Darwin in July. Sangha's international call-up came after a break-out campaign with South Australia, where he finished the season with 704 runs at 78.22 from just six games. The elegant right-hand bat scored one of three centuries in 2024-25 on debut for South Australia. Sangha then entered South Australia sporting folklore in March by hitting the winning runs in a knock of 126 not out as the Redbacks completed a record final chase against Queensland to secure the Sheffield Shield title for the first time in 29 years.. The performance came a year after being told by NSW he was no longer required. "I thought my career was over," Sangha told media at the time. "South Australia gave me a second chance. I owe them everything, really. They have saved my career." Sangha also topscored for Sydney Thunder in the 2024 BBL final, which was won by the Hobart Hurricanes. The former Australian under-19 captain, who scored his maiden first-class century playing for Cricket Australia XI against a touring England team as a teenager, was signed by Thunder at just 16 but recently committed to the Adelaide Strikers for the next two BBL campaigns. Six years after playing his last Test for Australia, Kurtis Patterson has been given another chance to stake his claim for an unlikely international comeback as one of several big names to headline the Australia A squad. Nathan McSweeney will feature after playing three Tests last summer before losing his spot at the top of the order, while Matt Renshaw was also named. "We've picked a balanced squad which provides a number of options, which we expect will be required over the course of the series," chief selector George Bailey said. "Jake Weatherald, Jason Sangha and Kurtis Patterson have all had dominant Sheffield Shield seasons and earned the opportunity to test themselves against international opposition. "Additionally, there is a strong presence of emerging talent in the squad who will benefit from playing alongside senior players including Nathan McSweeney and Matthew Renshaw, who bring substantial experience at 'A' level." AUSTRALIA A SQUAD TO FACE SRI LANKA A: Sam Elliott, Matt Gilkes, Bryce Jackson, Campbell Kellaway, Nathan McSweeney, Jack Nisbet, Mitch Perry, Kurtis Patterson, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Billy Stanlake, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald. Meanwhile, Newcastle teenage cricket prodigy Caoimhe Bray has earned a rookie contract with the NSW Breakers for the 2025-26 Women's National Cricket League. The Denman product, who now lives in Adamstown, capped a break-out year when she was called into the Breakers squad last December. The 15-year-old all-rounder made history in October when she became the youngest person to ink a WBBL contract, signing a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers. Bray made a dream WBBL debut by hitting the winning runs in the Sixers' opening victory over eventual champions Melbourne Renegades on October 27. She also played for Australia at the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in January. Bray is one of three Newcastle cricketers named in the Breakers squad alongside spinners Samantha Bates and Sienna Eve.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I was a victim of ‘Del Boy' of BBLs I am thrilled Katie Price's butt lift injector has been banned after I almost died
Bonnie Louise Cooper was left fighting for her life after her botched BBL BB HELL I was a victim of 'Del Boy' of BBLs I am thrilled Katie Price's butt lift injector has been banned after I almost died Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) READING the news that her former surgeon Rick Sawyer has been banned cosmetic procedures Bonnie Louise Cooper felt a wave of relief sweep over her body. Sawyer, who gained notoriety performing the BBLs on Katie Price, will no longer be able to practice cosmetic surgery across England and Wales for three years after being slapped with the ban in Manchester Civil Court. 6 Bonnie-Louise Cooper fought for her life after having a BBL at one of Rick Sawyer's clinics Credit: Supplied 6 The mum-of-one contracted sepsis and is lucky to be alive Credit: Supplied He was exposed after a BBC documentary showed him using a rented office block in London to perform the potentially deadly procedure that left some victims, including Bonnie, hospitalised with deadly sepsis. Bonnie, 27, was one of the women whose evidence had been used to ensure the man she had dubbed an 'evil Del Boy,' was served with an injunction. Sawyer has been banned from conducting any procedures in England and Wales until 27 May 2028 after a court heard evidence his BBL procedure had exposed women to sepsis. The injunction also prohibits him from possessing related surgical equipment or any antibiotics typically used in such treatments, unless prescribed for his own personal use. 'I can finally breathe again, Sawyer can no longer hurt any other women,' says Bonnie. 'I was left writing in agony and screaming in pain because of this procedure. 'I still need treatment for my injuries two years on. 'It's a huge relief and I know it's going to send a message to other so-called 'experts' who claim to be trained and licensed. 'These people are evil Del Boys who inflict suffering on unwitting victims. 'I'd be dead if my sister hadn't called the ambulance and gotten me into hospital. Watch as Katie Price livestreams her bum filler op for shocked fans as TWO surgeons inject her on operating table 'My little boy would have been an orphan all because of one of Sawyer's liquid butt lifts.' Beautician Bonnie, lives in Swanage, Dorset is mum to five -year-old Kash and says she decided to have a liquid BBL in November 2023. 'I thought I was doing the right and responsible thing by choosing a British clinic, I was told it was the safest option,' she says. 'I chose the one used by Katie Price on London's elite Harley Street thinking it safe.' But the night before, Bonnie admits she was stunned when she received a text with the address of the practitioner's "second clinic" in Romford, Essex. 'I was assured this was normal,' she remembers. When Bonnie arrived, the mum was told the producer was 'entirely safe'. 'It was explained I was having 250 mils of filler injected into each buttock,' she says. 6 The mum had her bum injected with filler in the hope to get a pert bottom Credit: supplied 6 Katie Price has previously promoted Sawyer 6 More than 30 people have spoken to the BBC claiming Sawyer botched their procedures 'I was given some numbing cream, but I wasn't prepared for the pain of the cannula injection. 'I always thought that giving birth was the worst pain I had ever experienced but labour was nothing compared to this.' Bonnie says the procedure was done in a beauty salon style environment and she was told to stand rather than lie down for the injections. 'I was in shock after the procedure,' she admits. 'I tried to put on a brave face, I was told I was likely to feel a bit odd because of the numbing cream. 'I asked if I should drive home and was told it was fine. 'That didn't make sense to me. I'd just had half a litre of filler injected into my bum. 'I wasn't given any after care instructions and was sent home without antibiotics and by the time I got home, I was screaming in agony. 'I couldn't get out of the car, and I started to vomit and fainted trying to get into my house. 'I rang the clinic, and I was told that they would get antibiotics for me the next day and advised me to go to bed.' Bonnie's sister Lisa-Marie Hughes,32, a stay-at-home mum, visited her that night, and had she not Bonnie might not be alive. 'She found me delirious, sweating and in absolute agony,' Bonnie recalls. Bonnie was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with sepsis. She was given morphine regularly for the next four days and intravenous antibiotics to fight the injection. 'I had an emergency MRI scan, and it revealed the procedure had caused muscle damage,' Bonnie says. 'It was so serious I was given a referral to Salisbury Plastics for dissolving procedures.' It took almost five days before Bonnie was well enough to be sent home. 'I had to take two different types of antibiotics for another month and was still on painkillers two months later,' she says. 'The antibiotics promised by the clinic never arrived and I was never told, despite asking what type of filler they used. 'The hospital tried to call the salon, but they didn't answer. It was awful. 'I felt like I'd been thrown to the wolves. I was left with no aftercare and no follow up.' 'I have huge regrets, and I still worry about on-going long-term side effects. I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall Bonnie Cooper 'It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. No one should ever have to experience that.' The standard surgical BBL involves the patient having fat harvested from their own body and re-injection into the buttock area. A non-invasive liquid BBL uses a range of dermal fillers including hyaluronic acid which is injected into each buttock using a large cannula to add volume. The liquid BBL is promoted as relatively pain free because the filler contains lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. While it seemed like the perfect option, two years on Bonnie is still suffering from her botched BBl. 'Two years on and I am still having physiotherapy on one of my legs to treat nerve damage two times a week,' she says. 'I have a shooting nerve in one leg. It's a constant reminder of what I suffered at the hands of Sawyer's clinics.' Bonnie is one of more than forty women used as evidence for the case for the self-styled 'celeb backed' expert to be banned. As part of the ban the Manchester Civil Court attached a power of arrest to the order, meaning Sawyer could be arrested without a warrant if he is found to be in breach of the terms. The court, together with Trafford Council, heard evidence which included a BBC documentary showing him working out of a rented office performing the procedures. The lawyer James Parry, who raised the case, said the injuries suffered were akin to that of a 'serious knife crime'. Sawyer, who is described as a beauty consultant, was found to be administering injections containing up to 1,000ml of dermal filler into clients' buttocks, without having a single healthcare qualification. What are Brazilian Butt Lifts and why are they so popular? Buttock enlargement surgery - known as a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL) - is used to make the bum look bigger, rounded and lifted. Surgeons transfer fat, inject filler or insert silicone-filled implants. It is the fastest growing cosmetic procedure but also one of the most dangerous, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Many patients are travelling to the likes of Turkey or seeking out unregistered surgeons in the UK and are not given full information on the risks. BBLs carry the highest risk of all cosmetic surgeries - with more than one death occurring per 4,000 procedures. Due to celebrities undergoing such ops, many women are hoping to emulate their looks. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Anu Sayal-Bennett, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, told the BBC: "Despite there being so much about body positivity, there are pressures for women - and men too - to look a certain way." Many people travel abroad for the procedure because it is cheaper and advertising is "terribly seductive", combined with the idea of a beach holiday, added Dr Sayal-Bennett. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has welcomed the ban. Institute President, Mark Elliot, slamming the shocking and dangerous practices Mr Sawyer was found to have committed saying 'the regulatory framework has failed to keep pace with the increase in the prevalence of cosmetic procedures in recent years, fuelled by social media,' The Sawyer ban comes six weeks after socially 'irresponsible' adverts for liquid Brazilian butt lifts have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain. The Authority found a slew of promotional posts on Facebook and Instagram broke the rules - and featured time-limited discounts that could rush consumers into making decisions. It banned six BBL providers from using their ads in the current form again, finding they could pressure women into booking cosmetic surgery "without taking sufficient time to consider the consequences". According to the watchdog 'Undertaking cosmetic surgery should have been portrayed as a decision that required time and thought from consumers before proceeding, because of the risks involved. Some of the adverts featured before-and-after images of Brazilian butt lifts, with captions such as: "Get the curves and contours you've always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments.' Others urged potential customers to take advantage of an exclusive opportunity to get that perfect peachy look" - and warned "limited space" was available on certain days. Bonnie says the ban should be just the first step in a continued crackdown on so-called back street beauty consultants. 'I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall,' she adds. Bonnie, who has campaigned to raise awareness about the dangers of this style for BBL, is now calling for new laws making it illegal to perform procedures like this in Britain. 'I fell victim to Sawyer in 2023, and it's taken almost two years for action,' she says. 'There needs to be a fast-tracked approach or new laws to regulate the industry. 'This ban is a start.'
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
I was a victim of ‘Del Boy' of BBLs I am thrilled Katie Price's butt lift injector has been banned after I almost died
READING the news that her former surgeon Rick Sawyer has been banned cosmetic procedures Bonnie Louise Cooper felt a wave of relief sweep over her body. Sawyer, who gained notoriety performing the BBLs on Katie Price, will no longer be able to practice cosmetic surgery across England and Wales for three years after being slapped with the ban in Manchester Civil Court. 6 6 He was exposed after a BBC documentary showed him using a rented office block in London to perform the potentially deadly procedure that left some victims, including Bonnie, hospitalised with deadly sepsis. Bonnie, 27, was one of the women whose evidence had been used to ensure the man she had dubbed an 'evil Del Boy,' was served with an injunction. Sawyer has been banned from conducting any procedures in England and Wales until 27 May 2028 after a court heard evidence his BBL procedure had exposed women to sepsis. The injunction also prohibits him from possessing related surgical equipment or any antibiotics typically used in such treatments, unless prescribed for his own personal use. 'I can finally breathe again, Sawyer can no longer hurt any other women,' says Bonnie. 'I was left writing in agony and screaming in pain because of this procedure. 'I still need treatment for my injuries two years on. 'It's a huge relief and I know it's going to send a message to other so-called 'experts' who claim to be trained and licensed. 'These people are evil Del Boys who inflict suffering on unwitting victims. 'I'd be dead if my sister hadn't called the ambulance and gotten me into hospital. 'My little boy would have been an orphan all because of one of Sawyer's liquid butt lifts.' Beautician Bonnie, lives in Swanage, Dorset is mum to five -year-old Kash and says she decided to have a liquid BBL in November 2023. 'I thought I was doing the right and responsible thing by choosing a British clinic, I was told it was the safest option,' she says. 'I chose the one used by Katie Price on London's elite Harley Street thinking it safe.' But the night before, Bonnie admits she was stunned when she received a text with the address of the practitioner's "second clinic" in Romford, Essex. 'I was assured this was normal,' she remembers. When Bonnie arrived, the mum was told the producer was 'entirely safe'. 'It was explained I was having 250 mils of filler injected into each buttock,' she says. 6 6 6 'I was given some numbing cream, but I wasn't prepared for the pain of the cannula injection. 'I always thought that giving birth was the worst pain I had ever experienced but labour was nothing compared to this.' Bonnie says the procedure was done in a beauty salon style environment and she was told to stand rather than lie down for the injections. 'I was in shock after the procedure,' she admits. 'I tried to put on a brave face, I was told I was likely to feel a bit odd because of the numbing cream. 'I asked if I should drive home and was told it was fine. 'That didn't make sense to me. I'd just had half a litre of filler injected into my bum. 'I wasn't given any after care instructions and was sent home without antibiotics and by the time I got home, I was screaming in agony. 'I couldn't get out of the car, and I started to vomit and fainted trying to get into my house. 'I rang the clinic, and I was told that they would get antibiotics for me the next day and advised me to go to bed.' Bonnie's sister Lisa-Marie Hughes,32, a stay-at-home mum, visited her that night, and had she not Bonnie might not be alive. 'She found me delirious, sweating and in absolute agony,' Bonnie recalls. Bonnie was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with sepsis. She was given morphine regularly for the next four days and intravenous antibiotics to fight the injection. 'I had an emergency MRI scan, and it revealed the procedure had caused muscle damage,' Bonnie says. 'It was so serious I was given a referral to Salisbury Plastics for dissolving procedures.' It took almost five days before Bonnie was well enough to be sent home. 'I had to take two different types of antibiotics for another month and was still on painkillers two months later,' she says. 'The antibiotics promised by the clinic never arrived and I was never told, despite asking what type of filler they used. 'The hospital tried to call the salon, but they didn't answer. It was awful. 'I felt like I'd been thrown to the wolves. I was left with no aftercare and no follow up.' 'I have huge regrets, and I still worry about on-going long-term side effects. 'It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. No one should ever have to experience that.' The standard surgical BBL involves the patient having fat harvested from their own body and re-injection into the buttock area. A non-invasive liquid BBL uses a range of dermal fillers including hyaluronic acid which is injected into each buttock using a large cannula to add volume. The liquid BBL is promoted as relatively pain free because the filler contains lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. While it seemed like the perfect option, two years on Bonnie is still suffering from her botched BBl. 'Two years on and I am still having physiotherapy on one of my legs to treat nerve damage two times a week,' she says. 'I have a shooting nerve in one leg. It's a constant reminder of what I suffered at the hands of Sawyer's clinics.' Bonnie is one of more than forty women used as evidence for the case for the self-styled 'celeb backed' expert to be banned. As part of the ban the Manchester Civil Court attached a power of arrest to the order, meaning Sawyer could be arrested without a warrant if he is found to be in breach of the terms. The court, together with Trafford Council, heard evidence which included a BBC documentary showing him working out of a rented office performing the procedures. The lawyer James Parry, who raised the case, said the injuries suffered were akin to that of a 'serious knife crime'. Sawyer, who is described as a beauty consultant, was found to be administering injections containing up to 1,000ml of dermal filler into clients' buttocks, without having a single healthcare qualification. What are Brazilian Butt Lifts and why are they so popular? Buttock enlargement surgery - known as a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL) - is used to make the bum look bigger, rounded and lifted. Surgeons transfer fat, inject filler or insert silicone-filled implants. It is the fastest growing cosmetic procedure but also one of the most dangerous, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Many patients are travelling to the likes of Turkey or seeking out unregistered surgeons in the UK and are not given full information on the risks. BBLs carry the highest risk of all cosmetic surgeries - with more than one death occurring per 4,000 procedures. Due to celebrities undergoing such ops, many women are hoping to emulate their looks. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Anu Sayal-Bennett, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, told the BBC: "Despite there being so much about body positivity, there are pressures for women - and men too - to look a certain way." Many people travel abroad for the procedure because it is cheaper and advertising is "terribly seductive", combined with the idea of a beach holiday, added Dr Sayal-Bennett. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has welcomed the ban. Institute President, Mark Elliot, slamming the shocking and dangerous practices Mr Sawyer was found to have committed saying 'the regulatory framework has failed to keep pace with the increase in the prevalence of cosmetic procedures in recent years, fuelled by social media,' The Sawyer ban comes six weeks after socially 'irresponsible' adverts for liquid Brazilian butt lifts have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain. The Authority found a slew of promotional posts on Facebook and Instagram broke the rules - and featured time-limited discounts that could rush consumers into making decisions. It banned six BBL providers from using their ads in the current form again, finding they could pressure women into booking cosmetic surgery "without taking sufficient time to consider the consequences". According to the watchdog 'Undertaking cosmetic surgery should have been portrayed as a decision that required time and thought from consumers before proceeding, because of the risks involved. Some of the adverts featured before-and-after images of Brazilian butt lifts, with captions such as: "Get the curves and contours you've always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments.' Others urged potential customers to take advantage of an exclusive opportunity to get that perfect peachy look" - and warned "limited space" was available on certain days. Bonnie says the ban should be just the first step in a continued crackdown on so-called back street beauty consultants. 'I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall,' she adds. Bonnie, who has campaigned to raise awareness about the dangers of this style for BBL, is now calling for new laws making it illegal to perform procedures like this in Britain. 'I fell victim to Sawyer in 2023, and it's taken almost two years for action,' she says. 'There needs to be a fast-tracked approach or new laws to regulate the industry. 'This ban is a start.' 6
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
I was a victim of ‘Del Boy' of BBLs I am thrilled Katie Price's butt lift injector has been banned after I almost died
READING the news that her former surgeon Rick Sawyer has been banned cosmetic procedures Bonnie Louise Cooper felt a wave of relief sweep over her body. Sawyer, who gained notoriety performing the BBLs on Katie Price, will no longer be able to practice cosmetic surgery across England and Wales for three years after being slapped with the ban in Manchester Civil Court. 6 Bonnie-Louise Cooper fought for her life after having a BBL at one of Rick Sawyer's clinics Credit: Supplied 6 The mum-of-one contracted sepsis and is lucky to be alive Credit: Supplied He was exposed after a BBC documentary showed him using a rented office block in London to perform the potentially deadly procedure that left some victims, including Bonnie, hospitalised with deadly sepsis. Bonnie, 27, was one of the women whose evidence had been used to ensure the man she had dubbed an 'evil Del Boy,' was served with an injunction. Sawyer has been banned from conducting any procedures in England and Wales until 27 May 2028 after a court heard evidence his BBL procedure had exposed women to sepsis. The injunction also prohibits him from possessing related surgical equipment or any antibiotics typically used in such treatments, unless prescribed for his own personal use. Read More on Real Lives 'I can finally breathe again, Sawyer can no longer hurt any other women,' says Bonnie. 'I was left writing in agony and screaming in pain because of this procedure. 'I still need treatment for my injuries two years on. 'It's a huge relief and I know it's going to send a message to other so-called 'experts' who claim to be trained and licensed. Most read in Fabulous 'These people are evil Del Boys who inflict suffering on unwitting victims. 'I'd be dead if my sister hadn't called the ambulance and gotten me into hospital. Watch as Katie Price livestreams her bum filler op for shocked fans as TWO surgeons inject her on operating table 'My little boy would have been an orphan all because of one of Sawyer's liquid butt lifts.' Beautician Bonnie, lives in Swanage, Dorset is mum to five -year-old Kash and says she decided to have a liquid BBL in November 2023. 'I thought I was doing the right and responsible thing by choosing a British clinic, I was told it was the safest option,' she says. 'I chose the one used by Katie Price on London's elite Harley Street thinking it safe.' But the night before, Bonnie admits she was stunned when she received a text with the address of the practitioner's "second clinic" in Romford, Essex. 'I was assured this was normal,' she remembers. When Bonnie arrived, the mum was told the producer was 'entirely safe'. 'It was explained I was having 250 mils of filler injected into each buttock,' she says. 6 The mum had her bum injected with filler in the hope to get a pert bottom Credit: supplied 6 Katie Price has previously promoted Sawyer 6 More than 30 people have spoken to the BBC claiming Sawyer botched their procedures 'I was given some numbing cream, but I wasn't prepared for the pain of the cannula injection. 'I always thought that giving birth was the worst pain I had ever experienced but labour was nothing compared to this.' Bonnie says the procedure was done in a beauty salon style environment and she was told to stand rather than lie down for the injections. 'I was in shock after the procedure,' she admits. 'I tried to put on a brave face, I was told I was likely to feel a bit odd because of the numbing cream. 'I asked if I should drive home and was told it was fine. 'That didn't make sense to me. I'd just had half a litre of filler injected into my bum. 'I wasn't given any after care instructions and was sent home without antibiotics and by the time I got home, I was screaming in agony. 'I couldn't get out of the car, and I started to vomit and fainted trying to get into my house. 'I rang the clinic, and I was told that they would get antibiotics for me the next day and advised me to go to bed.' Bonnie's sister Lisa-Marie Hughes,32, a stay-at-home mum, visited her that night, and had she not Bonnie might not be alive. 'She found me delirious, sweating and in absolute agony,' Bonnie recalls. Bonnie was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with sepsis. She was given morphine regularly for the next four days and intravenous antibiotics to fight the injection. 'I had an emergency MRI scan, and it revealed the procedure had caused muscle damage,' Bonnie says. 'It was so serious I was given a referral to Salisbury Plastics for dissolving procedures.' It took almost five days before Bonnie was well enough to be sent home. 'I had to take two different types of antibiotics for another month and was still on painkillers two months later,' she says. 'The antibiotics promised by the clinic never arrived and I was never told, despite asking what type of filler they used. 'The hospital tried to call the salon, but they didn't answer. It was awful. 'I felt like I'd been thrown to the wolves. I was left with no aftercare and no follow up.' 'I have huge regrets, and I still worry about on-going long-term side effects. I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall Bonnie Cooper 'It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. No one should ever have to experience that.' The standard surgical BBL involves the patient having fat harvested from their own body and re-injection into the buttock area. A non-invasive liquid BBL uses a range of dermal fillers including hyaluronic acid which is injected into each buttock using a large cannula to add volume. The liquid BBL is promoted as relatively pain free because the filler contains lidocaine, a local anaesthetic. While it seemed like the perfect option, two years on Bonnie is still suffering from her botched BBl. 'Two years on and I am still having physiotherapy on one of my legs to treat nerve damage two times a week,' she says. 'I have a shooting nerve in one leg. It's a constant reminder of what I suffered at the hands of Sawyer's clinics.' Bonnie is one of more than forty women used as evidence for the case for the self-styled 'celeb backed' expert to be banned. As part of the ban the Manchester Civil Court attached a power of arrest to the order, meaning Sawyer could be arrested without a warrant if he is found to be in breach of the terms. The court, together with Trafford Council, heard evidence which included a BBC documentary showing him working out of a rented office performing the procedures. The lawyer James Parry, who raised the case, said the injuries suffered were akin to that of a 'serious knife crime'. Sawyer, who is described as a beauty consultant, was found to be administering injections containing up to 1,000ml of dermal filler into clients' buttocks, without having a single healthcare qualification. What are Brazilian Butt Lifts and why are they so popular? Buttock enlargement surgery - known as a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL) - is used to make the bum look bigger, rounded and lifted. Surgeons transfer fat, inject filler or insert silicone-filled implants. It is the fastest growing cosmetic procedure but also one of the most dangerous, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS). Many patients are travelling to the likes of Turkey or seeking out unregistered surgeons in the UK and are not given full information on the risks. BBLs carry the highest risk of all cosmetic surgeries - with more than one death occurring per 4,000 procedures. Due to celebrities undergoing such ops, many women are hoping to emulate their looks. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Anu Sayal-Bennett, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, told Many people travel abroad for the procedure because it is cheaper and advertising is "terribly seductive", combined with the idea of a beach holiday, added Dr Sayal-Bennett. The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has welcomed the ban. Institute President, Mark Elliot, slamming the shocking and dangerous practices Mr Sawyer was found to have committed saying 'the regulatory framework has failed to keep pace with the increase in the prevalence of cosmetic procedures in recent years, fuelled by social media,' The Sawyer ban comes six weeks after socially 'irresponsible' adverts for liquid Brazilian butt lifts have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain. The Authority found a slew of promotional posts on Facebook and Instagram broke the rules - and featured time-limited discounts that could rush consumers into making decisions. It banned six BBL providers from using their ads in the current form again, finding they could pressure women into booking cosmetic surgery "without taking sufficient time to consider the consequences". According to the watchdog 'Undertaking cosmetic surgery should have been portrayed as a decision that required time and thought from consumers before proceeding, because of the risks involved. Some of the adverts featured before-and-after images of Brazilian butt lifts, with captions such as: "Get the curves and contours you've always wanted with our safe and effective body filler treatments.' Others urged potential customers to take advantage of an exclusive opportunity to get that perfect peachy look" - and warned "limited space" was available on certain days. Bonnie says the ban should be just the first step in a continued crackdown on so-called back street beauty consultants. 'I hope this ban allows the victims to stand tall,' she adds. Bonnie, who has campaigned to raise awareness about the dangers of this style for BBL, is now calling for new laws making it illegal to perform procedures like this in Britain. 'I fell victim to Sawyer in 2023, and it's taken almost two years for action,' she says. 'There needs to be a fast-tracked approach or new laws to regulate the industry. 'This ban is a start.' 6 Bonnie says that Sawyer's ban is a step in the right direction Credit: supplied
