SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) have secured the Northern Superchargers franchise for The Hundred, winning a competitive three-way bidding process, with the other contenders yet to be revealed. The final bid for the Yorkshire-based team was GBP 100 million.
This is the sixth franchise sold by the ECB for the 100-ball competition and the third IPL team to join, after Mumbai Indians and Lucknow SuperGiants. The ECB has recently sold teams like London Spirit, Oval Invincibles, and Birmingham Phoenix, with Trent Rockets and Southern Brave still available.
Managed by the Chennai-based Sun Group, SunRisers Hyderabad have extensive experience in franchise cricket. Alongside their IPL team, they also own SunRisers Eastern Cape in South Africa’s SA20 league. SunRisers were considered the frontrunners to acquire the Superchargers and pursued the opportunity with determination.
Known for their low-key approach, the SRH management typically refrains from involving itself in the team’s cricketing decisions. In the IPL, they are currently captained by Pat Cummins, one of the most respected leaders in international cricket. They were runners-up in last year’s IPL.
In the SA20, they are two-time defending champions. After acquiring a 49% stake in the Superchargers at a valuation of GBP 100 million, they will now enter negotiations with Yorkshire County.
Warwickshire to Begin Discussions with Knighthead Capital
In a related development, Warwickshire County Cricket Club has officially named Knighthead Capital Management LLC as the preferred private investor for a minority stake in the Birmingham Phoenix franchise.
Knighthead, the owners of Birmingham City Football Club, were selected for exclusive negotiations after a thorough due diligence process and a competitive bidding round that involved several international companies and individuals.
“Subject to completion, Knighthead will acquire a 49 per cent minority ownership stake in Birmingham Phoenix,” the county said in a statement on Wednesday. Knighthead acquired a 49% stake in the franchise, valuing it at GBP 82 million in total.
“With a controlling stake in Birmingham City FC and plans to develop a sports quarter, Knighthead continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its investment in the city,” the statement said.
Warwickshire CCC Chief Executive Stuart Cain stated that there is a strong alignment between the Club and Knighthead. “We both share a passion for high-performance sports, the communities we support, and have a shared vision for the future of this partnership and the benefits it can deliver.”
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