The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is planning to privatise its 100-ball tournament, known as The Hundred.

ECB’s plan will go ahead once at least two-thirds of the 18 county teams give their approval. The Hundred was introduced in 2021.

According to a report published moneycontrol, 10 county teams have given their approval and if two more are added to this list, ECB will proceed with their plan to overhaul The Hundred.

The innovative league is being played under different laws. While it involves each team playing 20 overs, the number of deliveries per over is reduced to five from six.

The report further claims that former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi and former BCCI president N Srinivasan could be among the investors for the revamped tournament, likely to be launched by 2025.

There’s a likelihood that the number of teams for the private league could be increased. Currently, eight teams feature in The Hundred.

Modi now lives in London and there are speculations that he has offered ‘to bring in a billion-dollar investment’ for the revamped private league.

On the other hand, Srinivasan’s company is already an owner of multiple franchises in IPL, SA20 and MLC.

“The IPL franchise owners are already making a good deal of money from the T20 league. It makes sense for them to invest money because they can sustain it. They’re already earning from a cricket league, so makes sense to expand and invest in another. For a complete outsider to put in money and break even at some point will be a bigger challenge,” the publication quoted a source as saying.

The publication also reported that Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders have also expressed interest in the ‘new project’.

“As for Rajasthan Royals, well the franchise operates out of UK and Jaipur, considering their owner is based out of London. So, England is as good as home,” a source was quoted as saying.

(With moneycontrol inputs)