The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) plans to increase the salaries of Hundreds players. According to reports from ESPNCricinfo, it emerged that tournament franchises could offer players multi-year contracts worth up to £300,000 per season if the governing body approves the tournament review.

Reports also claim that the England and Wales Cricket Board is also considering putting pressure on the UK Home Office. This is because they want Hundred franchises to play with a fourth foreign player in the XI. Currently, only three players are allowed in the XI.

The ECB has been actively involved in The Hundred in recent months. They have begun selling stakes in the franchises and have told potential investors that the total wage bill could rise by more than 80% next year. Teams’ spending on salaries for men’s and women’s players and coaches is expected to rise to more than £3.5 million a year from £1.9 million a year if the deals are agreed.

If the ECB’s early-stage plans work, then top salaries could rise from £125,000 to £300,000 in the men’s Hundred ahead of the 2025 season, and from £50,000 to over £100,000 in the women’s Hundred. This would mean the league’s salary would move to second after the IPL among men’s leagues and second after the WPL among women’s leagues.

The reports also added that the ECB wants to update the procurement model. This would allow each franchise to make up to six direct signings abroad – three men and three women – with multi-year contracts.

We are left behind: ECB sales director Vikram Banerjee in The Hundred

Vikram Banerjee, who is leading the sale process at the ECB, admitted that the Hundred League has lagged behind other leagues. He admitted that some of the best players need to be paid a lot and have not been able to do so. Speaking to the Business of Sport podcast, he said:

“We are the sixth highest paying country in men’s football. We are about to finish seventh if we sit still right now, which we won’t do. The 15th pick on a 15-man team, with all due respect, you don’t need to pay big money.

They could be a promising player,” he said. “It’s the three or four best players that [per team] that you have to pay for their time and effort to be there, and we have been left behind.

Under the ECB’s plans, each team in The Hundred will be able to sign one England player on a multi-year contract, worth around £100,000 in the women’s competition and £250,000 in the men’s.

Reports also claim that although the plans are resolved and discussed with investors, they will not come into play until 2026. If four foreign players are allowed per XI, Cien will be on the same page with IPL, WPL, PSL, and SA20.