The new alliance between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) might open doors for Indian cricketers to play the ambitious ‘The Hundred’ tournament. If this happens, this will be the first of its kind.

Meanwhile, BCCI has been reluctant to leave its top cricketers for other franchise leagues. According to the apex body, a cricketer can ply in the foreign leagues after announcing retirement from international and domestic cricket. Otherwise, they need a NOC from BCCI.

Indian cricketers likely to play The Hundred

However, ECB chief executive Tom Harrison has been saying in the British press that the English board has been talking to BCCI to release Indian players for ‘The Hundred’. The World Cup will need BCCI’s complete support to recover from the financial blow it has suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from Indian cricketer, the organisers will be keen to attract the massive Indian fanbase which constitutes 90% percent of 1 billion cricket fans.

“We want something that has global relevance, real commercial power, something that the whole game has ownership of and that reduces our reliance on international cricket, which is currently responsible for more than 90 per cent of our revenue,” Harrison told The Cricketer.

‘The Hundred’ was scheduled this July-August but had to be deferred to 2021 due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. It took a toll on many other global events including the Olympics. ECB has also terminated the contracts of the players. They will issue fresh contracts for the tournament next year.

The cricketing body of England plans to host the inaugural edition of the tournament before or after India’s tour of England next year.