Lancashire CEO Daniel Gidney has asked the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to propose a partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to enable Indian cricket stars to participate in The Hundred, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
According to a proposal by Gidney, integrating the BCCI as a minority ownership partner could be the key to aligning interests and persuading Indian players to participate in The Hundred.
The Hundred, launched in 2021, has gained traction for its fast-paced format but is yet to feature Indian men’s players, who are restricted by BCCI policies to only compete in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Indian women cricketers, such as Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, have already made their mark in the women's version of The Hundred and Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League, but the absence of Indian men’s stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah has been a notable gap.Â
Advertisement
"I think it's possible. If I was the ECB, I'd be talking about perhaps bringing the BCCI in as a minority ownership partner in the tournament as a whole. If you do that, then you are aligning interests. That is probably your best chance of getting (Indian) players in The Hundred. It comes down to the will, and the individuals on both sides," Gidney said as quoted to ESPNcricinfo.
Also read: Mumbai Indians Bag Oval Invincibles At 49 Percent Share In The Hundred
Daniel Gidney Proposes IPL Exhibition Match in UK
The proposal comes at a time when IPL franchises are expanding their global footprint with stakes in leagues like SA20, ILT20 and Major League Cricket. Notably, four IPL teams, Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), have invested approximately INR 3,257 crore in The Hundred’s eight teams, signaling a growing financial connection between the ECB and Indian cricket.
Gidney highlighted Lancashire’s strong ties with Indian cricket, citing past players like VVS Laxman and the current relationships with the BCCI.
"We've probably had more Indian overseas players than any other county. When you have VVS Laxman at the NCA, who Mark Chilton (Lancashire director of cricket) captained, then you have strong relationships all the way through," Gidney stated.
Advertisement
Gidney also floated the idea of hosting exhibition matches featuring IPL franchises, such as Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, at Old Trafford to attract the UK’s Indian cricket fan base and enhance commercial opportunities. He said,
"Imagine having an LSG (Lucknow Super Giants) vs Delhi Capitals game here at Old Trafford — at the end of the season, say in September. That could be pretty mega, in terms of the Indian fans in the UK. It would make commercial sense for everybody."
Also read: Sanjiv Goenka Buys 70 Percent Stake At Manchester Originals, Confirms Lancashire County
