The Hundred to expand overseas players limit to 4 as ECB plans massive wage hikes

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are planning to increase the wages of the players in the Hundred. As per the reports in ESPNCricinfo, it is learned that franchises of the tournament could offer players multi-year contracts worth up to £300,000 per season if the governing body approves the tournament's overhaul.

The reports also claimed that the England and Wales Cricket Board is also considering lobbying the UK's Home Office. This is because they want franchises in Hundred to play a fourth overseas player in the XI. Currently, only three players are permitted in the XI.

The ECB has been actively involved in The Hundred for the last few months. They have started selling stakes of the franchises and they have told prospective investors that total wage bills could increase by over 80% next year. The expenditure of teams on salaries across men's and women's players and coaches is expected to increase to more than £3.5m per year from £1.9 million per year if the deals are locked in.

If the plans of the ECB in the early stages work then top salaries could climb from £125,000 to £300,000 in the men's Hundred ahead of the 2025 season, and from £50,000 to over £100,000 in the women's Hundred. This would mean that it would make the league’s salary spend second to the IPL among men's leagues, and second to the WPL among women's leagues.

The reports also added that the ECB wants to update the recruitment model. This would allow each franchise to make up to six direct overseas signings - three men's and three women's - on multi-year contracts.

We have fallen behind - ECB sales manager Vikram Banerjee on The Hundred

Vikram Banerjee, who is running the sale process at the ECB, admitted that the Hundred League has fallen behind the other leagues. He admitted some top players need to be paid highly and they haven’t been able to do that. Speaking to the Business of Sport podcast, he said:

“We are the sixth highest-payer in the men's game. We're about to go seventh if we stay still at the moment - which we won't. The 15th selection in a 15-man squad, with all due respect, you don't need to pay huge sums for.

They might be an up-and-coming player," he said. "It's that top three or four players [per team] that you do need to pay to get their time and their effort to be there, and we have fallen behind."

As per the plans of the ECB, each team in The Hundred will be able to sign one player from England on a multi-year deal, worth around £100,000 in the women's competition and £250,000 in the men's.

The reports also claimed that although the plans are sorted out and have been discussed with investors, they will not come into play until 2026. If four overseas players per playing XI are allowed Hundred will be on the same page with IPL, WPL, PSL, and SA20.