Islamabad, Jan 27: Several prominent IPL franchises and a global tech consortium have reached the final round of bidding to acquire stakes in The Hundred, ECB’s 100-ball competition. The contenders include Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, and GMR Group, which recently acquired a majority share in Hampshire.
The host counties discussed the initial bids and finalized the shortlist on December 23, 2024.
London Teams Garner Global Attention
The London-based teams, Oval Invincibles (hosted by Surrey) and London Spirit (hosted by MCC), have sparked the most interest, particularly from Mumbai Indians and a global tech consortium. This group includes top tech executives like Sundar Pichai (Google CEO), Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe CEO), Egon Durban (Silver Lake CEO), and Nikesh Arora (Palo Alto Networks CEO). This consortium is bidding for control of both London teams. RPSG Group, led by Sanjeev Goenka, owner of the Lucknow Super Giants, is also vying for the London Spirit franchise. 
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Manchester Originals and Sunrisers Hyderabad Attract Diverse Bidders
The Manchester Originals, based at Old Trafford, have emerged as a hot property, drawing attention from Mumbai Indians, RPSG Group, and other investors. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad, backed by the Sun Group, is in contention for stakes in Trent Rockets (Nottingham), Northern Superchargers (Leeds), and Welsh Fire (Cardiff). CVC Capital Partners, owners of Gujarat Titans, are also linked to Birmingham Phoenix.
Privatization and Economic Concerns
The ECB plans to sell a 49% stake in each of the eight franchises, with the goal of transitioning to private ownership by 2026. Despite the excitement, some investors, including Lalit Modi, have voiced concerns over the ECB’s financial projections, labeling them overly optimistic.
Potential Impact on Pakistani Cricketers
Pakistani cricketers have traditionally been a key part of The Hundred, but concerns are rising about IPL involvement potentially limiting their participation.
Other leagues like SA20, Major League Cricket, and ILT20 also exclude Pakistani players from IPL-owned teams.
This could result in fewer opportunities for Pakistani cricketers in the tournament.
