The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may delay the sale of equity stakes in The Hundred until 2025, according to Vikram Banerjee, the ECB’s director of business operations. The move comes as the board prioritizes finding the right partners and valuations for the eight franchises.
Careful Approach to Equity Sale
The ECB began looking for private investment earlier this year, with financial advisers Deloitte and Raine Group managing valuations.Â
The eight host counties will retain 51% stakes in their teams, while the ECB will sell the remaining 49%
Funds from this sale will be distributed among first-class counties, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and grassroots cricket.
Banerjee stressed that the board is cautious in assessing potential partners.Â
Hampshire, for instance, faces losing its stake in Southern Brave if its prospective buyer, the GMR Group, fails to offer a fair price.
The ECB is taking similar care with other teams, such as Northern Superchargers, which has attracted interest from Sun Group, owners of IPL’s Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Banerjee explained that the ECB is in no rush and would rather wait for suitable bids that can contribute not just financially, but also in terms of expertise and global engagement.Â
The initial target was to have all equity sales completed by the 2025 season. However, the process may extend if valuations and partners don’t meet ECB’s expectations.
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Timeline and Future Expansion
While the ECB hopes to finalise deals in early 2025, Banerjee emphasised that rushing into agreements with unsuitable partners could harm the competition’s long-term goals.Â
He also addressed potential future expansion, stating that no new teams will likely be added until 2029, allowing The Hundred time to grow and stabilise under new ownership structures.
Banerjee concluded by assuring that the current media rights, which provide 80% of The Hundred’s revenue, remain secure until 2028, ensuring a level playing field for all teams in the upcoming seasons.
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