ECB reject IPL founder Lalit Modi’s $1 billion proposal of restructuring The Hundred, decide to be on good terms with BCCI
Lalit Modi had founded the IPL in 2007, basing it on the National Football League model.
Lalit Modi was fired from the BCCI in 2010 and since then has been living in the United Kingdom. (Image via ESPN)
A few days ago, Lalit Modi went up to the English and Wales Cricket board with a proposal to restructure The Hundred. He wanted to make it like the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing in 10 teams with the format changed to T20s. This proposal came as the ECB were looking for a more profitable T20 League.
Modi said he was planning to bring in an investment of $1 billion for the 10 teams, which would be divided equally for their purses to purchase players. He also assured that there would not be much involvement from teams in the IPL, as it was a league based in England.
The ECB decided to first consult with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the proposal. Modi had been fired from the BCCI after being found guilty for 8 charges by the governing body. He has since been living in London.
Now The Telegraph has come out and reported that they have rejected Modi’s proposal. The ECB have decided to reject the proposal, with two main factors. One of them is that the ECB is not ready to give up their majority share in the tournament. Along with that, they wanted to keep a good relationship with the BCCI, who had already shunned Modi. He was also fired as he threatened teams and players if things didn’t go his way.
History of the The Hundred
The Hundred was first proposed as a Franchise T20 League by the ECB in 2016. After consulting all county teams, players and the Marylebone Cricket Club regarding the tournament, it was finally greenlit in 2017 by the ECB.
That very year, the board proposed a new format instead of the regular T20I, where matches would be played for 100-balls instead of 120-balls. Eight teams were made, for both women and men. It has been criticized before, with many calling it a danger to the longer formats of the game.
The first season of The Hundred was supposed to start in 2020, but it got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament did happen in the following year, with Oval Invincibles winning the inaugural Men’s competition, while Southern Brave won the Women’s competition. The 2023 Men’s Hundred was won by Brave, while Invincibles won the 2023 Women’s Hundred.
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Dhruv Kulkarni
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