The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials are in talks with several IPL franchise owners to invest in the Hundred competition. The fourth edition of the controversial 100-balls per side tournament, which features eight specially created teams -- each with a men's and women's side, starts Tuesday.
The future of the tournament remains uncertain as the ECB looking to secure private investment in a bid to cement its position in the global calendar and boost the finances of the domestic game.
The ECB is attempting to strike a balance between demand for a cash injection and preserving control of the Hundred by selling a 49 percent ownership in each team to private investors, with host teams keeping the remaining 51 percent of shares.
"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. 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,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould told reporters.
The cash-rich T20 IPL, a multi-million-dollar spectacle fueled by India, the world's most populous country, has altered the sport's global landscape, with players no longer required to endure the grind of Test and ODI matches to pursue lucrative careers.
Some believe that IPL owners, such as the rich Ambani family, who own the Mumbai Indians, are only interested in full control of a Hundred teams.
ECB chief also spoke about potential investment in the Hundred by IPL franchise owners.
He said: "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.
There is certainly the opportunity for people to have potentially 100 percent ownership. It depends on the capabilities they can bring both in terms of finance and operation delivery."
The ECB's director of business operations Vikram Banerjee said while he had spoken to IPL owners about the Hundred, he was also open to offers from American Football (NFL).
"I've now met and spoken to, several 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,” he said.
Some of the IPL franchise owners already own teams in the CPL, the ILT20, the SA20, and the MLC.
(AFP inputs)
