ECB relinquishes control over The Hundred tournament after seven years

In England, a revised agreement regarding the financial structure of cricket has emerged, centering on a landmark £975 million deal intended to reshape the sport's economic landscape. This deal seeks to attract funding from powerful investors keen on becoming stakeholders in The Hundred cricket franchises. As of April 2025, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has prepared a document that proposes significant changes to its prior arrangements, including a shift in control over decision-making within the tournament. The transformation involves dissolving the current Hundred committee and establishing a new governing entity called The Hundred Board (HB), on which the ECB will control only one-third of the voting rights. This setup aims to increase stakeholder involvement and ensure that decisions pertaining to the tournament are more democratically represented. Moreover, the ECB has outlined stipulations that any amendments to the HB Agreement would require the agreement of a majority of investor members, alongside two-thirds of all HB members and the ECB board, which underscores the balance of power being shifted towards the investors. Furthermore, the ECB’s document reveals that it will not have the authority to unilaterally terminate The Hundred for at least seven years, providing a degree of stability to the franchises. It has also introduced a variety of safeguards against unprecedented circumstances by detailing specific termination events. Conditions have been put in place to ensure the board remains operational even in extreme situations, safeguarding the interests of both the ECB and individual teams. In conclusion, while the initial purpose of this deal was to inject substantial financial resources into English cricket, it is now becoming evident that the ECB faces increasing pressure from stakeholders for further revisions in operational and financial governance. The ECB's ongoing negotiations to finalize these agreements demonstrate the challenges the organization faces in managing investor interests while ensuring the long-term viability of the tournament within the competitive landscape of global cricket.