Steve O'Keefe hopes BBL defending champions Sydney Sixers are spared a trip to Perth under restrictive biosecurity protocols, quipping he doesn't like Western Australia premier Mark McGowan.
Cricket Australia (CA) is still trying to broker a deal with McGowan's government that would allow Perth Scorchers to host BBL matches this season.
Discussions are ongoing, as is the case with the fifth Ashes Test that Tasmania's government is actively lobbying to be held in Hobart rather than Perth.
CA is hopeful of a breakthrough soon, ideally in the form of exemptions that could allow teams to travel to and play in Perth on a fly-in fly-out basis.
The question of whether seven sides should embrace such rigmarole, when every other state will have open borders throughout most of the BBL season, remains complex.
O'Keefe, who has played every season of the Big Bash and will be a key part of the Sixers' push for a third straight title, made it clear on Thursday he has little time for McGowan's hardline stance.
"I do not want to go to Perth. I don't like Mark McGowan. I hate playing at Optus, we never do well," O'Keefe stirred.
"I hate that plane flight.
"Maybe we just give Perth the two points, stay at home and enjoy a week at home.
"He doesn't want us there."
O'Keefe added he wasn't complaining, noting border policies were "tough for everyone".
But the former Test spinner said it would be "amazing" if BBL players and staff, set to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by month's end, avoided the same restrictions of 2020-21.
"They did really well Perth last year in allowing us in," he said.
"But you know, you've got a police escort all the way off the plane to the hotel then you had to stay on the same floor of the hotel.
"I'll leave that up to the Big Bash people but hey, how about if Perth wants to come, they can come to Sydney?
"We'll happily have anyone from Perth. I'm not sure Mark McGowan thinks the same."
The Sixers are slated to face the Scorchers at Optus Stadium on January 6 in a rematch of the 2020-21 final.
Tickets will soon be on sale for the majority of BBL games, including the SCG season-opener between the Sixers and Melbourne Stars on December 5, but CA is yet to do the same for Optus Stadium fixtures.
The governing body said this week it remains "committed to taking a full quota of Scorchers home games to Perth if permitted".
O'Keefe noted last year's BBL bubble proved an enjoyable "slumber party" for three days.
"By the end of it ... even blinking was starting to annoy people," he laughed.
"A lot more balance going into the season.
"Being at home over Christmas ... that's a big tick for a lot of guys with young families."
