ECB: At almost 1 billion pounds sterling of a hundred and auction will protect cricket for future generations

The Cricket Council of England and Wales said that the windfall of almost 1 billion pounds sterling of its hundred auction represents “a fundamental moment” which will protect the sport “for future generations” .

Investors around the world have devoted sumptuous sums in the game in exchange for issues in eight teams based in town that have existed for only four seasons.

A period of exclusivity now takes place, during which the conditions will be finalized, the ECB confident that a tranche of tenders worth 520 million pounds of new investments will soon be signed.

In total, this values ​​the sides at more than 975 million pounds sterling, a figure that would have been inconceivable in domestic cricket.

The product will be returned directly to the country’s cricket network, with 50 million sterling books reserved at the recreational level and the rest sharing the 18 first class counties and the owners of Lord’s, Marylebone Cricket Club.

Counties who do not have a hundred teams will receive a larger section, while the hosts have been offered at 51% of their teams.

By reflecting on the potential impact of the investment, the president of the BCE Richard Thompson was overflowing with enthusiasm.

“In the past few days, we have reached a fundamental moment for cricket in England and Wales,” he said.

“Four years after the launch of the hundred, we have now participated in final discussions with eight strategic partners, each ready to invest in the eight teams of the competition and to help us take the competition and the English and the Welsh cricket At a new level – for the benefit of our whole game.

“Each of these partners shares a passion for the success and cricket of the competition itself.

“These are world leaders in sport, technology, investment and trade, aligned in our ambition to continue building the hundred as a world -class sports show.

“It means vital support for county cricket, the growth of the female game and inspire even more children – and people of all ages – to pick up a bat and a ball.

“Our objective is now to ensure that the necessary measures are taken to finalize this process, in order to unlock the transformer impact that these new partners will bring to competition.

“This will also guarantee funding that will go directly to professional counties and recreational play, underpins the fabric of our county game and helping the growth of cricket to the test of the future in England and Wales for generations at come.”

The imminent arrival of large -scale and large -scale partners and large -scale value in London Spirit, Invincible Oval, Northern Superchargers, Manchester Originals, Trent Rockets, Birmingham Phoenix, Welsh Fire and Southern Brave will bring deep changes – but not immediately.

The competition for this summer is presented as a year of transition, leaving the time for the details of a 2026 restart is debated. The ECB, however, answered a multitude of key questions, exposing its future vision of the road.

The director body confirmed that if some investors will end in advance, they have five years to pay in full. Investors are also determined to remain involved for the same period – until 2030.

The introduction of a ninth, and perhaps 10th, the team is very on the cards, but not before the end of the current broadcast agreement in 2028.

“Expansion is a sign of success and that is what we are looking at,” said Vikram Banerjee, director of commercial operations of the ECB.

“I will be delighted if it happens. If the tournament develops and cricket grows across the country, it will be obvious. »»

Managing Director Richard Gould was cooler on the idea that the tournament could lose its unique sales argument as a 100 -ball format and put itself online as a T20 league.

“It is not my expectation. There was a lot of discussions and debates and the format is not the one that was a raging debate. »»

Attracting an international television agreement in its own right is an absolute priority – especially since investors are looking for a return on their injection in cash – but the game times will not move to attract an Indian audience.

“The most important thing for live sport is to have great participations,” reiterated Gould.

“We want large dynamic stadiums full of cricket supporters and families who come to watch matches.”

There will also be a great desire to attract world superstars and to break existing remuneration bandages, because the influx of private money helps loosen the handbag chains.

“We have to make sure that the hundred window attracts the best players in the world. We know that players’ salaries will increase considerably in the coming years, “he added.

“It will happen because we have to make sure that we are the leaders of a world market during the English summer.”