Recently, the ECB sold stakes in The Hundred teams. Hundred is a franchise competition based on a hundred balls per inning. Both ECB and English counties had stakes in all eight franchises. The investors will act as the partners for the league’s further success. Among the new owners, four of them are IPL franchise owners along with the association of global tech giants which include the leaders of Google and Microsoft.
Let’s Look at which team is bought by which group. With the shift in the Hundred’s ownership stakes now the question arises, how will this impact Pakistani players wishing to play? Pakistani players were barred from playing in the IPL. Now IPL franchises are expanding into the global T20 market such as MLC in the USA, SA 20 in South Africa, and IL T20 in the UAE.
To understand this first we have to look at the ownerships of different teams.
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London Spirit
London Spirit sold 49 % of its share to the Silicon Valley-based tech association which is led by Nikesh Arora the CEO of a Palo Alto-based Cyber security firm. The Marylebone Cricket Club still owns the majority stake and will work together with the owners. Silicon Valley group is also involved in the USA’s Major League cricket.
Oval Invincibles
The Reliance group owner Ambani family acquired 49% percent shares of the other London-based franchise by spending £60 million. The reliance owner has one of the most diverse cricket empires including the IPL franchise Mumbai Indians which expands to the SA T20 with MI Capetown. ILT20 and MLC have MI Eamrites and MI New York respectively. Now with the recent deal, the empire is expanded to the Hundred.
Birmingham Phoenix
Birmingham City owners Knighthead Capitals have invested £40m for nearly half a stake in another sports property in Birmingham. The group is led by co-founder Tom Wnager. NFL legend Tom Brady is also a minority owner.
Manchester Originals
Lancashire opted to sell a portion of its shares to investors RSPG group. RSPG group bought 70% of the franchise worth £81m. Sanjeev Goenka-owned RPSG group owns the IPL franchise Lucknow SuperGiants and SA T20 team Durban SuperGiants.
Welsh Fire
Indian American Businessman Sanjay Govil has acquired a 49% stake in the Cardiff franchise at the price of £40m. His portfolio includes the Washington Freedom Franchise of MLC.
Trent Rockets
Todd Bohely will buy a 49% share in the hundred franchise Trent Rockets via Cain International Investment company. The group will pay just under £40m raising the overall value of the franchise at £79m.
Southern Braves
The GMR group has acquired a 49% stake in the Southampton-based franchise. Group owns IPL franchise Delhi Capitals as well as Dubai Capitals in IL T20 and Pretoria Capitals in SA T20. With the recent purchase of shares now the Southern Braves is valued at £98m.
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What can be the Problem For Pakistani Players In The Hundred After This?
IPL is one of the major revenue streams for international cricketers and they even prioritize it on international cricket. With the IPL doors closed on Pakistani players they have to find opportunities in the other franchise leagues around the world for their financial well-being. Now as the IPL team owners are taking control of the franchises in the leagues worldwide options for Pakistani players are shrinking.
Unlike IPL Pakistani players are not officially banned but it is clear that they have no chance of being selected in an IPL-based franchise. Just take the example of the SA T20 all of the franchises are owned by IPL owners no Pakistani players are to be seen.
In ILT20 the teams where IPL owners are not involved you can see Pakistani players. There was an exception of Sufuiyan Muqeem who was selected by IPL-affiliated franchise Abu Dhabi Knight Rigers.
When this concern was raised to the ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould, he replied “We are aware of the challenges Pakistani players face in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould stated, confirming the ECB’s stance on maintaining inclusivity”
