Owners of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the two-time IPL winning franchise, are reportedly keen on investing in The Hundred, ECB’s unique 100-ball tournament, if the competition turns towards private investment next year.
The inaugural season of The Hundred, originally slated to begin this July, has been pushed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament is currently wholly owned by ECB, but given the financial losses incurred due to the ongoing suspension of cricket, it could force them to change their stance, and consider private investment.
According to a report in Telegraph Sport, KKR chief executive Venky Mysore has expressed interest in potentially investing in the UK-based competition, iterating their plans of seeking opportunities to “invest in cricket globally.”
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Red Chillies Entertainment, the parent company that owns KKR, also owns a stake in Trinbago Knight Riders, the Caribbean Premier League based out of Port of Spain.
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“We are perhaps the only genuine global brand in cricket and our strategy has always been to look at opportunities to invest in cricket globally,” Mysore said.
“All leagues around the world understand the value that Knight Riders bring to any league and to that extent we will surely be keen to explore [investment opportunities]. I think leagues are also realising the value of having investors such as us who bring our brand, professional management, marketing ideas and huge fan base.”
