ECB accused of ‘selling family silver’ as Hundred auction starts with Invincibles
ECB accused of ‘selling family silver’ as Hundred auction starts with Invincibles
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The ECB has been accused of “selling the family silver and cricket’s soul” rather than taking “strategic decisions” by one of the bidders in the Hundred auction, which begins on Thursday. The Oval Invincibles is the first franchise up for grabs when the final round of bidding starts with a live online auction at 1.30pm, with Birmingham Phoenix to be sold via sealed bids later in the day.
![[Lauren Winfield-Hill and Paige Scholfield of Oval Invincibles walk out to bat at the Oval]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/525bbc56c526dc5efabb5eb49294911673da6934/0_0_5242_3495/master/5242.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The Guardian has been told that there are 11 bidders left in the race to buy the eight franchises, although with losing bidders permitted to re-enter and make offers for another franchise the ECB is hopeful there will be sufficient competition to raise around £500m, which will be allocated to the counties and grassroots cricket.
Several Indian Premier League owners withdrew following the first two rounds of bidding, however, while some of those still involved have misgivings over the process. The franchises will be sold to the highest bidder irrespective of the wishes of the host venue, who could end up disappointed with the identity of their new partners.
“It feels like the ECB are selling the family silver and cricket’s soul for a quick financial hit, rather than taking strategic decisions,” a source involved in one bidding team told the Guardian. “Some of the smartest and wealthiest investors in the world have spent three months talking to the counties to try to build relationships and create a partnership, but in the end it will just come down to who bids most. It’s insane.
