Kolkata Knight Riders looking to invest in England's 'The Hundred' 

KKR owners wish to spread their net wider across to the financially strong UK market.

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan co-owns Kolkata Knight Riders | GettyFamous Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is looking to make an investment in 'The Hundred', the brainchild of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

It was reported by 'The Telegraph' newspaper that the Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan co-owned KKR is open to having a stake in the new 100 balls per side tournament, which has been postponed by the ECB to 2021 amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read Also: Andre Russell reveals what he would say to Shah Rukh Khan before his last game for KKR

While the ECB had earlier made clear its stance to not allow any private investment in the tournament, that may change considering the board is set to lose over 300 million pounds because of its suspension. 

"We anticipate the cost of no cricket this year could be as bad as 380 million pounds. That is the worst-case scenario for us," ECB CEO Tom Harrison told the UK government's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee about the impact of coronavirus."

"That would be the loss of 800 days of cricket across all of our professional clubs and the ECB. It is the most significant financial challenge we have ever faced."

No professional cricket will be played in England and Wales till at least July 1, with the deadly outbreak threatening to ruin the entire summer at this stage. 

Having bought the Trinidad franchise in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2015, KKR owners now wish to spread their net wider to the UK market. 

(Inputs from PTI)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 06 May, 2020

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