The Hundred 2025 Teams Collaborate with New IPL Partners

The Hundred 2025 – Teams Collaborate with New IPL Partners for Player Recruitment

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Investors in The Hundred are significantly influencing the tournament’s recruitment strategies. Teams can now directly sign two players—one male and one female—before the draft, leveraging their partners’ global networks. Notable signings include Rashid Khan and Nicholas Pooran, who are moving from other teams, reflecting the changing landscape of T20 cricket. The ECB is raising salaries to compete with other leagues, while concerns persist about fairness in player selection amid the shifting dynamics created by international franchising. Future changes to the draft system are anticipated as franchises explore collaborative opportunities, aiming to enhance competitiveness and performance.

Investors set to join The Hundred are already making their mark on the tournament, with numerous teams adopting a new recruitment strategy to bring in players who are affiliated with their partners’ overseas franchises.

The updated ‘direct signing’ format permits each team to secure two players—one from the men’s side and one from the women’s—prior to the upcoming draft next month. While joint-venture agreements are still in the negotiation stage, ESPNcricinfo has discovered that several franchises are already utilizing their partners’ global connections to scout talent for the Hundred’s ‘transitional’ season in 2025.

Rashid Khan has signed with the two-time defending champions, Oval Invincibles, after participating in the ILT20, SA20, and MLC for their new co-owners, Reliance. Manchester Originals are currently exploring a temporary contract for Nicholas Pooran, who competes for their joint-venture partners, RPSG Group’s IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants.

Southern Brave, under the GMR Group’s management, are pursuing a deal to secure Faf du Plessis, who they recruited last November for their co-owned IPL team, Delhi Capitals. Meanwhile, Welsh Fire are in discussions with Steven Smith, who plays for new collaborators Washington Freedom in MLC, hoping to finalize his contract before Sunday’s deadline.

Rashid and Pooran’s agreements are particularly significant as both previously played for different teams in the Hundred: Rashid for Trent Rockets and Pooran for Northern Superchargers. Rashid was the inaugural pick at the Hundred’s first draft in 2019 and has been retained since, but he will now join The Oval.

“The goal of the direct signings was to attract top-tier overseas talent, which I see as a positive step,” stated Daryl Mitchell, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), to ESPNcricinfo. “While regulations will be in place, relationships in cricket often endure, some for many years.”

Mitchell noted it has become commonplace for players to strengthen their ties with international franchises, encouraging the ECB to remain vigilant. “Player movements have been prevalent in cricket for a long time, with established relationships between certain agents and key personnel like directors of cricket or coaches,” he added.

The ECB has increased top men’s salaries from £125,000 to £200,000 for 2025, aiming to compete with MLC and CPL for talent. The PCA criticized the modest increases for lower salaries in December, calling it a “disrespect” to domestic players, and are advocating for further raises as new ownership settles in by 2026.

These developments mark a notable progression toward a global contracting network in the realm of T20 franchises, although some will still compete with teams linked to their own IPL franchises. Trent Boult, who has played for several teams owned by Reliance, has signed with Birmingham Phoenix, while David Miller, a teammate of Pooran’s at LSG, is expected to join the Northern Superchargers.

Currently, this dynamic has not yet affected English players, who can’t switch directly from one team to another aside from the uncertainties of the draft. However, the ECB has indicated to potential investors that they might allow England players to sign multi-year contracts in future seasons, enabling movement based on their connections with IPL franchises.

“There is a clear opportunity for collaboration.”

James Sheridan, chairman of Manchester Originals, on their new alliance with Lucknow Super Giants

Players have been representing franchises across various leagues since Kolkata Knight Riders made history by purchasing the Trinidad and Tobago CPL team a decade back. However, this trend has intensified recently, particularly following the 2023 launches of ILT20 and SA20, where IPL owners hold a strong presence.

“If we consider a long-term perspective, it’s not inconceivable that we could see some integration of these teams and a merging of tournaments at some point,” said James Sheridan, chair of Manchester Originals, last week. “However, that would require significant shifts. Yet, in ten years, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re considering something along those lines.”

Sheridan mentioned that in the coming years, the Originals, Super Giants, and Lancashire may establish “joint development efforts,” but cautioned, “The contracting process in franchise cricket is often complicated, with auctions and drafts involved… Nonetheless, there’s a clear chance for collaboration.”

Industry insiders believe that Hundred teams lacking connections to other overseas franchises could face difficulties in attracting players in the future. This particularly affects Rockets, who have signed Marcus Stoinis after losing Rashid, and Phoenix, where the allure of Lord’s under their new Silicon Valley co-owners could be a significant draw.

Kane Williamson was named the new men’s captain for the Spirit this week, and his contract will also include a stint with Middlesex, who are the tenants of the MCC at Lord’s. Some host counties are eager for closer alignment in player selection between their Hundred teams and their counties, both domestically and internationally, a trend Mitchell believes is already underway.

“The reality is that over the past four to five years, we’ve seen some alignment between county players and Hundred teams,” Mitchell mentioned. Will this trend continue? I believe so. Host counties may soon control the budgets for both the county and Hundred teams,” he noted.

Mitchell emphasized that the PCA’s priority is to ensure players feel confident that Hundred squads are selected based solely on merit. “In the next 12-18 months, it’s critical to implement mechanisms ensuring that selection is performance-based, allowing every player a fair chance at opportunity.”

The ECB will maintain overarching control of The Hundred but is forming a new committee involving representatives from each franchise to address recruitment and similar issues. There is an increasing expectation that the draft system may be modified or completely overhauled after this season, with discussions regarding an open-market approach or auction formats being considered.

While the influence of new owners on recruitment has primarily been observed in the men’s Hundred, the women’s franchise circuit is still developing. Amelia Kerr (Manchester Originals) and Laura Wolvaardt (Southern Brave) were recently confirmed as direct signings, with the Originals also retaining Beth Mooney.

Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98

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