The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is in advanced discussions with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners regarding potential investments in The Hundred, its innovative 100-ball competition. The Hundred, featuring eight teams with both men’s and women’s sides, is set to commence its fourth edition on Tuesday.
The ECB is actively seeking private investment to secure The Hundred’s position in the global cricket calendar and strengthen the financial foundation of domestic cricket. The proposed model offers private investors a 49 percent stake in each team, while the host teams would retain the remaining 51 percent shareholding.
Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, emphasized that while private investments are welcome, the ECB intends to maintain control over the competition. “Control comes at different levels, it comes at team level and it comes at competition level — that’s not something we are ceding control of,” Gould told reporters during a conference call, as reported by AFP.
The IPL, known for its financial muscle and popularity, has transformed the global cricket landscape. Gould acknowledged the immense influence of the Indian market, noting, “You’re right about the strength of the Indian market — it represents probably 90 percent of the revenues coming into the ICC (International Cricket Council) and we have seen the proliferation of IPL teams moving outside of their home market into other national markets. I think that’s to be welcomed.”
While there are perceptions that IPL owners, such as the billionaire Ambani family who own the Mumbai Indians, may only be interested in full control of a Hundred team, Gould stated that there is flexibility in the ownership structure. “Different investor groups have different needs, for some it is about control of what happens on the field, for others it’s the commercial element. There is an opportunity for potential investors to acquire 100 percent ownership, depending on their financial capabilities and operational delivery expertise,” Gould explained.
The ECB’s director of business operations, Vikram Banerjee, confirmed having multiple discussions with IPL and Women’s Premier League (WPL) owners. “I’ve now met and spoken to, a number of times, all the IPL owners and WPL (Women’s Premier League) owners that don’t overlap and there is interest there, from what they’ve told me, which is fantastic and lends into a very exciting process. I would really hope we have a level of partnerships with some IPL teams, I think that would be brilliant. They have done a great job and know cricket very well,” Banerjee said.
In addition to IPL and WPL owners, the ECB has also reached out to owners from the American Football’s NFL, providing them with an explanation of cricket and its rules, indicating a broad interest in diversifying investment sources.
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