The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to officially begin selling teams for The Hundred on Thursday (January 30). This marks a crucial phase in the tournament’s evolution, with significant interest from global investors. The financial firm overseeing the process, Raine Group, and the ECB will commence the disinvestment drive with Oval Invincibles, the Surrey county-run London team.
IPL Owners in The Race
Initially, there was widespread speculation that numerous Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners would enter the race to acquire teams in The Hundred. However, as the sale process reaches its critical phase, only four IPL franchises remain in contention.
Delhi Capitals have aligned with Hampshire’s Southern Brave, effectively leaving Mumbai Indians, Lucknow SuperGiants, and SunRisers Hyderabad as the primary IPL bidders for the remaining seven teams. Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings have reportedly opted out.
Auction Process & Ownership Structure
ECB’s sale strategy involves phased bidding, allowing investors multiple chances to secure a team. Two or three interested parties will compete for each team, with the ECB expected to conduct an e-auction or invite sealed bids.
Reliance Industries-owned Mumbai Indians, in partnership with a US-based tech consortium, is reportedly among the top contenders for purchasing the Oval Invincibles. Initially, the Surrey County Cricket Club was hesitant to sell its share, but recent developments suggest they are now open to parting with their stake. The ECB is offering a 49% share, and full control would transfer to the new owner only if Surrey County agrees to divest its remaining 51% stake.
Upcoming Sales & Potential Bidders
The teams up for sale include:
Birmingham Phoenix
London Spirit
Manchester Originals
Northern Superchargers
Oval Invincibles
Southern Brave
Trent Rockets
Welsh Fire
After the Oval Invincibles sale, ECB is expected to auction Birmingham Phoenix next. On the second day, London Spirit and Welsh Fire will be up for bidding, followed by Manchester Originals, Trent Rockets (Nottingham), and Northern Superchargers. Notably, SunRisers Hyderabad is emerging as a strong contender for Northern Superchargers.
Southern Brave will be the final team auctioned, with GMR (owners of Hampshire County) competing against another investor to potentially acquire a 100% stake.
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