The ECB doesn’t expect India’s male cricketers to play in the Hundred despite IPL owners investing in half of the teams. On Thursday, the ECB announced exclusive agreements with eight investors, valuing the tournament at over £975 million. These investors, including RPSG Group, Sun TV Network, Reliance Industries, and GMR Group, will now negotiate with host counties.
While the ECB hopes to tap into the Indian market through IPL-linked investors, it doesn’t expect the BCCI to change its stance on barring active Indian male players from overseas T20 leagues. ECB chief Richard Gould emphasized India’s market importance but acknowledged the BCCI’s clear position.
Gould also assured that Pakistan players will continue to have opportunities in the Hundred, unlike in other IPL-backed leagues. No Pakistani player has appeared in the IPL since 2008, and they’ve been absent from SA20, ILT20, and MLC. However, the Hundred has regularly featured Pakistani players and will maintain that approach.
Looking ahead, the ECB aims to establish a dedicated window for the Hundred to avoid overlapping with leagues like the CPL and MLC. With MLC investors also involved in the Hundred, ECB officials see potential for better global scheduling. Business operations director Vikram Banerjee stressed the importance of cooperation with other leagues to ensure the Hundred remains an attractive, talent-rich tournament.
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