"Disconnected From Reality": Ex-IPL Supremo Slams 'The Hundred', Points Out Flaws

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)'s financial projections on the profitability of its pet project 'The Hundred' is largely "disconnected from reality" reckoned Lalit Modi, who conceptualised the vastly successful Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Modi had little doubt that The Hundred will never be able to attain the international audience like the mega-hit IPL. The ECB is looking at potential Indian investors with deep pockets, preferably owners of IPL teams, who have stakes in other global leagues.

But the former IPL commissioner's series of tweets with charted numbers showed that none of The Hundred franchises can be valued at anything between GBP 5 million to 25 million, let alone USD 1 billion.

"The ECB's financial projections for The Hundred, particularly beyond 2026, appear overly optimistic and disconnected from reality. The International TV rights figures make little sense, given the global competition from other cricket leagues like the IPL.

"It's unlikely The Hundred will attract the necessary international audience to justify these inflated numbers," Modi tweeted.

The Hundred, where each team plays 100 ball per innings in 65 minutes comprises eight teams -- Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets and Welsh Fire.

In fact, Modi, who had wanted to buy out the 'The Hundred' for USD 1 billion for perpetuity but ECB wasn't interested, busted the cricket board's ambitious claims.

"Domestically, while an increase in TV rights from GBP 54 million to GBP 85 million is plausible, the optimism around sponsorship post-2027 is far-fetched.

The ECB's #financial projections for The #Hundred, particularly beyond 2026, appear