- The English Cricket Board is trying to secure investment in The Hundred
- Interested parties from various locations are invited for the 2024 season
- The move is part of an effort to attract the world’s best talent to the league
The ECB hopes to attract American investors to the Hundred by contacting NFL owners and explaining the rules of the game in their pitch.
They hope to have sold stakes in the eight teams in time for the start of the 2025 season. The fourth season of the 100-ball-a-side competition starts on Tuesday.
The ECB fears a hierarchy is emerging now that there are 17 franchised men’s leagues worldwide and believes additional investment is needed to follow in the wake of the Indian Premier League.
Owners of the IPL and its women’s equivalent, plus interested parties from the US, will be hosted here for matches over the next four weeks.
“We have sent a document and a video to some NFL owners to explain what cricket is,” said Vikram Banerjee, ECB chief operating officer.
ECB hopes to secure foreign investment in The Hundred in time for the 2025 season
The move is part of a bid to compete with some of the world’s biggest short-form leagues, such as the Indian Premier League.
“In terms of fan engagement, how they can create stadium experiences and bring in the next generation, those guys are amazing. We can bring that mix together.”
There is agreement within the ECB hierarchy that player wages need to rise significantly from the current £30,000-£125,000 salary scale if they are to attract the world’s best short-form talent.
Major League Cricket seems to be one step ahead of them with the signing of Australia Test captain Pat Cummins on a four-year contract. Adding insult to injury, Cummins said he hadn’t even considered the Hundred.
What it looks like in the future will depend on how much money comes into play and where it comes from. A £300m bid from the Bridgepoint Group for a 75% stake was rejected in late 2022, and England bosses are determined to retain control of the league themselves.
Some top players, such as Australian Test captain Pat Cummins, have largely overlooked the competition
Although ECB chief Richard Gould said on Monday there were no active discussions on the topic, the Hundred will eventually revert to Twenty20 – in line with the format that will be played at the 2028 Olympics – even if it retains its branding.
An eight-team expansion is also on the agenda, but that change must be in line with TV broadcasting agreements. Sky’s current deal runs until the end of 2028.