The landscape of English cricket has shifted seismically. With the 2026 season on the horizon, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has finalized the sale of its franchises, inviting a massive influx of private capital—primarily from the deep pockets of Indian Premier League (IPL) owners.
But as the bank balances swell, the soul of the English summer is being weighed against geopolitical interests. The question isn't just about money anymore; it’s about whether the ECB has effectively imported a foreign political feud into its own backyard.
The Billion-Dollar Handshake: Who Owns the Summer?
On paper, the deal is a masterstroke of survival. Facing a volatile financial future, the ECB opened the doors to owners who have turned the IPL into a global behemoth. The result? A valuation of the eight teams at nearly £1 billion, with over £500 million being funneled back into the 18 counties and the grassroots game.
However, a look at the new boardroom table reveals a clear trend toward multi-club ownership, where English teams are now just satellite offices for Indian conglomerates:
Oval Invincibles | MI London | Reliance (Mukesh Ambani) | India's wealthiest man; close ally to the Prime Minister.
Northern Superchargers | Sunrisers Leeds | Sun Group (Kalanithi Maran) | Powerful political family in Tamil Nadu; core IPL stakeholder.
Manchester Originals | Manchester Super Giants | RPSG Group (Sanjiv Goenka) | Industrial titan with deep establishment ties.
Southern Brave | Southern Brave | GMR Group | Owners of Delhi Capitals; also recently purchased Hampshire CCC.
The "Silent" Ban: An Unwritten Rule
The most contentious issue is the elephant in the room: the exclusion of Pakistani players. It is no secret that IPL owners do not sign Pakistani talent due to the ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan. By selling the majority of The Hundred to these specific owners, the ECB has effectively imported this "silent ban" into England.
Reports from the February 2026 player auction confirm that an "unwritten rule" has taken hold. While the ECB’s official stance remains one of "fairness and equality," agents have been told that interest in Pakistani stars—like Shaheen Afridi or Babar Azam—is strictly limited to the few sides not linked to the IPL.
* Erasure of Talent: World-class stars who are massive draws for the UK's South Asian diaspora are now being treated as "un-auctionable" baggage.
* Institutional Capture: The BCCI is often viewed as the sporting arm of Indian soft power. By tethering the future of English cricket to owners who must stay in the BCCI's good graces, the ECB has traded its independence for a "Golden Cage."
Bending the Knee or Banking the Check?
To say the ECB "bent over" is a strong sentiment, but it reflects a growing anxiety that the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is now the de facto commissioner of global cricket.
Historically, the ECB formed part of the "Big Three." Today, they look more like a junior partner. By rebranding iconic English venues with "MI" and "Super Giant" monikers, the ECB has signaled that the product is now designed for an Indian TV audience first, and local English fans second.
The Reality Check: Cricket is a business. The ECB argues that without this £500m windfall, professional counties would face bankruptcy. But when you sell the farm, you don't get to complain when the new owner decides what to plant—or who is allowed to play in the fields.
The Verdict: A Fragmented Future
The ECB didn't just sell stakes in teams; they sold the neutrality of English cricket. They have achieved financial security, but at the cost of inclusivity.
When a Pakistani kid in Birmingham or Bradford looks at the local franchise and sees that their heroes are systematically excluded because of a boardroom deal made 4,000 miles away, they won't see "growth." They will see a game that sold its principles to the highest bidder. The bank accounts are full, but for many, the spirit of the game has never felt poorer.
0 comments