The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering privatizing its 100-ball event, The Hundred. Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and former BCCI president N. Srinivasan could be among the Indian investors interested in revamping The Hundred tournament.
Launched in 2021, The Hundred joins England’s existing T20 tournament, the T20 Blast. Once viewed with skepticism in the cricket community, it is now on the brink of privatisation, which could attract investment of more than £1 billion.
Ten county teams have agreed to privatize
As reported by MoneyControl, 10 county teams have accepted the plan, and two more are needed for the ECB to proceed with the renewal of The Hundred. The fate of this effort depends on the approval of two-thirds (12) of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s 18 county teams.
Indian investors, particularly led by IPL franchise owners, are considering collaborations with English counties for a revamped tournament in 2025. However, the potential capital injection raises questions about preserving the essence of English cricket amid the investment. foreigner.
Despite criticism, stakeholders initially favor the existing format. Sky, a broadcaster, refrained from funding the recent India-England series but plans to secure IPL broadcast rights for the UK market. Its partnership with the ECB indicates long-term development.
Lalit Modi and N. Srinivasan show interest in The Hundred Revamp
Lalit Modi and N. Srinivasan have historical links with English cricket. They have a strong interest in franchising opportunities, which extends to The Hundred. Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Supergiants, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals are reportedly eyeing partnerships.
London-based Lalit Modi is rumored to have offered a major multi-billion dollar investment for England’s revamped tournament. Meanwhile, N Srinivasan’s company owns teams in several cricket leagues around the world, including IPL, SA20 and MLC.
“IPL franchise owners are already making a lot of money from the T20 league. It makes sense for them to invest money because they can keep it. They are already making money from one cricket league, so it makes sense to expand and invest in another. For a complete outsider, investing money and breaking even at some point will be more of a challenge,” the publication said, citing an anonymous source.
“As for Rajasthan Royals, the franchise operates from the UK and Jaipur, considering its owner is based outside London. So England is like home,” said a source.
The Hundred will also feature each team playing 20 overs, with a unique feature of five deliveries per over. This structure restricts each side to 100 legal deliveries per entry. There are considerations to expand the league beyond its current eight-team format in the future.