BCCI Interested In Launching Their Own Hundred, Says ECB Chairman

In the form of IPL, the BCCI owns the richest T20 league but it has not stopped the Indian cricket board from taking a keen interest in The Hundred. ECB’s outgoing chairman Colin Graves has revealed that a number of countries particularly India have shown interest in The Hundred.

Graves stated that the BCCI had been in touch with him to find out more about the Hundred. Cricket’s newest format was to be launched this year in July but had to  postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The format of the games will see each team playing a maximum of 100 balls with a change of ends after every 10 deliveries. Bowlers will deliver either five or 10 consecutive balls but are restricted to a maximum of 20 per match. There will be 25-ball powerplay in each innings during which only two fielders will be allowed outside the initial 30-yard circle.

Graves said that the format is meant for a “new audience” comprising mainly “women, children, families, which really had not come to cricket.” The ECB believes the Hundred has the potential to create “millions” in revenue which in turn would be utilised to help develop the grassroots game in England. And although the format has divided the cricket world in two halves, Graves stated that several countries including India are curious about it.

“I know that some of the countries abroad, India in particular, are looking at their own,” Graves told Sky Sports, on the first day of the final Test between England and Pakistan in Southampton. “They have been talking to me about it for the last year on a regular basis. So around the world it has created a lot of excitement.”

As far as the BCCI is concerned, they are yet to make any sort of comment on The Hundred. Previously, the BCCI had tried several measures to expand the IPL but is yet to succeed. The BCCI had also explored the idea of a mini-IPL but the packed calendar of international cricket did not allow them to go ahead with it.

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