Former IPL chairman and founder Lalit Modi has issued a strong caution to IPL franchise owners regarding their potential investment in The Hundred, a cricket league run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). According to Modi, the ECB is misleading investors by offering stakes in the league, which he believes holds little value.
The ECB is reportedly keen to privatize The Hundred by selling nearly 100 percent ownership in its eight teams. Several IPL franchises, such as Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings, have shown interest in acquiring majority stakes in these teams.
The ECB expects to generate £1.8 million (Rs 20 crore) annually from 2024 to 2028 through this deal. By 2029, the governing body anticipates an 800 percent growth in revenue, projecting earnings of £15 million (Rs 160 crore) from the Indian market.
The ECB’s Plans for Privatization
However, Lalit Modi is sceptical of this projection, arguing that the ECB is artificially inflating the league’s value. He points out that international broadcast rights are insignificant and cites examples like SA20, CPL, Big Bash, and ILT20, none of which generate significant revenue from overseas markets.
According to Modi, the ECB’s expected valuation of £300 million for The Hundred is not justified. He believes the true value of individual teams, except possibly Lord’s, would be far less—around $5 million each.
Modi had previously offered the ECB a billion dollars to purchase The Hundred and convert it into a Twenty20 league, distancing it from the current format, which he believes lacks global appeal. His proposal included 100 percent ownership, separating it from the ECB’s broader media rights package, and rebranding it as a T20 tournament.
In his statement, Modi expressed concern that the ECB is trying to lure IPL franchise owners into investing in The Hundred by creating unwarranted hype. He warned them against falling into what he sees as a poorly conceived and financially unsound venture, with no guarantees of success.
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