IPL Teams Compete to Acquire The Hundred Teams from ECB
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to initiate the process of selling teams from The Hundred on Thursday, January 30. This strategic move by the ECB has piqued the interest of several Indian Premier League (IPL) team owners, with only four remaining in the race to acquire franchises from the innovative cricket tournament.
The ECB is preparing to sell the Oval Invincibles, a Surrey county-run, London-based team, as the first franchise on January 30. Notably, Delhi Capitals have already partnered with Southern Brave, based in Hampshire. Meanwhile, three more IPL teams — Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians — are actively competing to acquire one of the remaining seven franchises.
Interestingly, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, who showed initial interest, have since withdrawn from the bidding process. The ECB is still deliberating on whether the team sales will be conducted through sealed bids or an e-auction.
Investors in The Hundred can purchase up to a 49% stake in a team. Full ownership, however, remains contingent upon the county cricket clubs divesting their 51% interest in the franchise. This unique structure provides a level of security for traditional county cricket entities while opening doors for external investment.
The two teams that have been in the race include Northern Superchargers from Yorkshire, linked with Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Southern Brave, likely to be taken over by the GMR Group associated with the Hampshire County Cricket Club. The competition in The Hundred includes teams such as Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and Welsh Fire.
As the ECB moves forward in its efforts to privatize teams from The Hundred, the involvement of IPL teams signifies a growing cross-border financial synergy and investment in cricket leagues, aimed at expanding the sport’s commercial and competitive dimensions globally. The coming days hold significant promise in terms of strategic partnerships and investments that could reshape the landscape of domestic and international cricket competitions.
19:30 IST
