The hundred can be changed to a twenty20 competition next year. The 100-ball format is anchored in the domestic TV contracts of England and Wales Cricket Board with Sky Sports and the BBC until 2028, but The Guardian has learned that both broadcasters are open for transfer to T20 next summer if requested by the newly formed one hundred boards, which is dominated by representatives of the eight Franats.
The ECB first investigated the hundred for the Global Standard T20 format two years ago in informal discussions, which in particular attracted a lukewarm response from Sky. The broadcaster has invested heavily in the marketing of the hundred, which has succeeded in attracting more diverse crowds to land and has a younger TV public than other forms of cricket on the network, while the BBC also likes the size because it is easier to fit shorter competitions in the schedules.
The sale of, in most cases, minority interests in the eight franchises for £ 520 million this year, however, has changed power dynamics, with the new co-owners who are expected to have an enormous influence on the future of the competition in view of the collective size of their investment. Four of the joint owners are Indian Premier League franchises, two are Indian-American consortia and two are American investment companies.
Formal discussions will only take place until the one hundred board will meet for the first time in October, but the issue of the format is expected to be prominent. The 20-person board will consist of four representatives of the ECB and two each of the eight host locations and new investors, who effectively control the franchises.
A source with one franchise said that the IPL owners in particular want to switch to T20 to adapt to the other franchise competitions where they operate teams in India, South Africa, the US and the United Arab Emirates. The T20 format will also be used at the Olympic Games when Cricket returns to Los Angeles 2028 after 132 years, which is particularly important, since India offers to host the games in 2036.
The hundred of this summer is in fact a transition tournament before the new owners formally arrive on October 1, when the excellent sale of ovale invincibles and Trent Rockets has to be completed.
Although Sky and the BBC have dragged the hundred until this point, there is a growing feeling that it would be better to re -launch the competition with a bang next year instead of making a series of incremental changes. Next year there will be other important innovations, including new team names at some franchises, new commercial deals and a new digital strategy.
After the promotion of the newsletter
Another source confirmed that if T20 were to be embraced, this next year it would have to be done instead of waiting until 2028. It is expected that the hundred name and branding would be retained after a format change, given that it was determined.
#set #Twenty20 #transformation #year