Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has criticized the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for its “disconnected from reality” financial projections for The Hundred. Modi shared confidential financial details of the tournament, highlighting what he believes are inflated values and unsustainable expectations for the competition and its teams.
The leaked financial projections were initially shared with potential investors under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) by the ECB’s financial advisors, Raine Group and Deloitte. However, Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal the documents, while dismissing the ECB’s valuation of The Hundred’s eight teams as overblown.
Unrealistic Valuations and Global Competition
He criticized the ECB’s optimism, particularly regarding international TV rights and the overall profitability of the tournament. Modi pointed out that The Hundred faces significant competition from more established cricket leagues, such as the Caribbean Premier League and the USA’s Major League Cricket, and questioned the ECB’s ability to attract a global audience at the scale required to justify their financial projections.
“The ECB’s financial projections for The Hundred, particularly beyond 2026, appear overly optimistic and disconnected from reality,” he wrote. “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.”
Dwayne Bravo Retires from All Cricket After Historic T20 Career
Modi, who helped launch the IPL in 2008 and watched it become a global powerhouse with media rights worth US$6.2 billion for 2023-2027, believes the ECB is overestimating The Hundred’s value. According to Modi, the tournament’s teams are valued between £5 million to £25 million, a stark contrast to the IPL’s billion-dollar franchises.
He also compared The Hundred’s profitability unfavorably to the Caribbean Premier League, suggesting that The Hundred is on fragile financial ground. This criticism comes as the ECB struggles to secure private investment for The Hundred, with a delay in equity sales possible if suitable investors are not found by 2025.
Modi’s statements hold significant weight, given his role in shaping modern cricket’s commercial landscape with the creation of the IPL.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
