ECB Seeks Signing Of NDA's From IPL Teams Before Providing Any Information About The Hundred

The English Cricket Board has reached out to potential investors of ‘The Hundred’ asking them to sign NDA's before they are provided with any information about the league. These investors also include several IPL teams. According to the ECB, after the NDA has been signed, probable investors will be provided with all the information and finances regarding the 100-ball league. The ECB has hired Deloitte and Raine Group for this very purpose and it is reported that they are in talks with several IPL franchises regarding potential investments but are making everyone sign the NDA before providing them with the Information Memorandum. 

The IM is a document which carries all the information such as property details and finances. 

Normal Practice For The ECB

The IPL teams have never usually been asked to sign NDA's by the BCCI and this has been the norm for a very long time however according to a spokesperson from the ECB it is a standard practice due to the IM carrying financial details. 

"It's a standard practice to require NDAs, given that the IM includes financial information," said the ECB spokesperson. 

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One major issue that investors face is the aspect of control for the teams as ECB has said it will not relinquish control of a team and will have a 49% stake in every team. 

The Issue Of Stake In Team's

The ECB has said it will have a 49% stake in the Hundred teams while the team or the county will have a 51% share. The ECB is open to selling it's stake in the teams. There is also the case that if an investor gets their stake from the county or the team then they could take over the team managment but this will not extend to other aspects of the ECB's workings. 

"The ECB retains overall control of the competition. The investment is into the eight Hundred teams. The ECB will have a 49 percent stake in each team, and the host venue will have a 51 percent. We (the ECB) are offering our 49 per cent stake for sale and each venue can decide whether to offer all or part of its 51 percent.

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"We expect there to be a variety - for some teams, it may be a 49 percent stake which is available, for others it may be a majority stake. 

"No investor gets control over running the county. The Hundred team is a separate entity. So if one invests in Oval Invincibles, they are only investing in Oval Invincibles, they are not getting control of Surrey County Cricket Club," said a representative of the ECB.