Sunrisers Hyderabad owner acquire Northern Superchargers franchise in The Hundred
Northern Superchargers became the third team under Sun Group.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) owners have acquired stakes in the Northern Superchargers, a franchise of England's The Hundred. The deal, which saw SRH outbid two other contenders, records the growing influence of IPL franchises in England's 100-ball tournament. The winning bid for the Yorkshire-based team is reported to be GBP 100 million, making it the sixth franchise sold by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The ECB has been actively selling stakes in The Hundred franchises as part of its strategy to bring in private investment and globalize the tournament. In recent weeks, several IPL franchise owners have entered the competition, with Mumbai Indians acquiring stakes in Oval Invincibles and Lucknow Super Giants investing in Manchester Originals. The SRH ownership group, Sun Group, a Chennai-based media, has now expanded its global cricket portfolio by securing a share in Northern Superchargers.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise has been a strong contender in franchise cricket, operating teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and SA20. Their South African franchise, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, has already won consecutive SA20 titles.
With their 49 per cent stake, they will enter negotiations with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which currently operates the team. The Northern Superchargers, based at Headingley in Leeds, have been a part of The Hundred since its beginning and have attracted a solid fan base.
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Meanwhile, six of the eight teams in The Hundred are now under private ownership. Other teams that have been sold include London Spirit, Oval Invincibles, Welsh Fire, Manchester Originals, and Birmingham Phoenix. Only Trent Rockets and Southern Brave remain under ECB control, but they too are expected to be sold soon.
This change to private ownership is to bring financial stability and open doors for cross-league collaborations, sponsorship opportunities, and the exchange of cricketing expertise between IPL and The Hundred franchises.
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