Lancashire Eyes IPL Partnership

Lancashire Cricket Club is pursuing a partnership with an IPL franchise to co-manage Manchester Originals starting in 2025. As the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prepares to offer stakes in the eight Hundred teams for sale next month, Lancashire has been in discussions with potential partners over the past few weeks.

Over the last five years, Lancashire has actively expanded its presence in India. This strategy has included organising pre-season tours for both men’s and women’s teams, playing friendlies against teams affiliated with Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, and signing Indian players like Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, and Venkatesh Iyer as overseas recruits.

As the owners of Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire will receive a 51% stake in Manchester Originals from the ECB as part of the Hundred's sale. The club is specifically seeking a "sporting partner" rather than just financial backing. Lancashire's CEO, Daniel Gidney, expressed a strong preference for collaborating with an IPL franchise, citing the potential benefits for both parties. He accentuated that their interest in India is significant, given the cricketing opportunities it could open up.

The ECB is managing the sale of the stakes, with financial advisory support from the Raine Group and Deloitte. However, Lancashire will play an active role in selecting their partner and has already hosted representatives from several franchises, including Lucknow Super Giants, during the Hundred.

Among the Hundred franchises, the two London teams—London Spirit (Lord's) and Oval Invincibles (The Oval)—are expected to command the highest valuations, followed by Manchester Originals and Birmingham Phoenix (Edgbaston). Gidney has advised potential investors that while London may attract many suitors due to its prestige, Manchester offers the best value for those looking to make a substantial impact.

There are also reports that Avram Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United and owner of Desert Vipers in the UAE's ILT20, might be interested in acquiring a stake in a Hundred franchise. However, given the Glazer family's unpopularity with Manchester United fans, it seems unlikely that they would invest in Manchester Originals.

Gidney stressed the importance of preserving the Manchester Originals' identity, rejecting any notion of rebranding the team as Manchester United or Manchester City, despite the city's prominent football clubs.

He also suggested that the ECB should consider increasing the number of overseas players allowed per team in the Hundred from three to four, especially as private investment grows and salaries rise. Additionally, Gidney advocates for adjustments to the draft system to allow more "local heroes" to be part of the Hundred Squads. Currently, top Lancashire players like Liam Livingstone (Birmingham Phoenix) and Saqib Mahmood (Oval Invincibles) are not part of the Manchester Originals setup, which Gidney sees as a missed opportunity.

Gidney stated that player salaries must increase to attract top talent, warning that situations, where star players like Shaheen Shah Afridi choose other leagues over the Hundred, should not occur. He also noted that some players currently in the Hundred might be better suited to the One-Day Cup, arguing that the tournament must feature the best talent to succeed.