England and Wales Cricket Board’s premier shorter format tournaments, The Hundred and T20 Blast might be scrapped soon. Both tournaments have been facing a lack of popularity and financial losses. The 100-ball tournament was reported to have suffered massive monetary losses but the ECB denied it. Not to forget, the broadcast deal with Sky Sports Cricket will expire in 2028.
Talking about the T20 Blast, it started with the advent of T20 cricket, i.e. in 2003. The same year, former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram played in the first edition of the tournament. However, the tournament failed to reach the heights that the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and other leagues have reached. IPL started in 2008 and the PSL started in 2016. Despite this, they are sitting on top of the popularity charts.
As reported by The Times, the top bosses of the ECB will discuss the future of T20 Blast and The Hundred. It is understood that they are concerned about the presence of two shorter-format tournaments. Talking about the team ownership in the Blast, they are owned by the board. On the other hand, The Hundred teams are jointly owned by the board, counties, and private investors.
At this point, the board is yet to comment on the matter.
Glenn Maxwell claimed T20 Blast is in danger from Major League Cricket
Australia all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell who pulled out of this year’s Blast, claimed that the United States of America’s Major League Cricket might become a threat to the Blast.
“I think now the Major League Cricket tournament’s come in, that’s going to affect the Blast really badly,” Maxwell said on BCC radio. “When you’ve got an opportunity to go over to America for two weeks, compared to 14 games here with a stressful schedule where you’re traveling all over the place,” he said on BBC Radio.
“There was one week where we played on a Tuesday in Durham, Thursday in Leeds and then Friday here in Birmingham – that’s three games in four days with a day’s travel in between,” Maxwell added.
This is how Twitter reacted
Thankfully, it is going. It soared to my eyes. The can actually bring a T20 league like IPL or PSL
— Anubhav shahi 48 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@anubhavnahinhai) July 19, 2023
In the advent of T10 leagues, a concept like Hundred doesn't stand a place
— Anuj Mishra (@anujmishra003) July 18, 2023
@poserarcher bhai ab to MLC dekhna padega 🤪🤪🤪
— Raazi (@Rg86037221) July 18, 2023
Hahah nai hoga mujse and the hundred ye saal to ayega na atleast?
— Archer (@poserarcher) July 18, 2023
Getting a new T20 league in its place most probably. Will be lagging behind in future otherwise. Australia needs to rejuvenate BBL as well
— The Cricket Statistician (@CricketSatire) July 18, 2023
— Shilajit (@ShilajitIsHere) July 18, 2023
Yeh toh shuru hote hi khatm ho gaya
— Vivek Ojha 🇮🇳 (@bhrashtvivek) July 18, 2023
Wise decision
vitality should face the same fate
time for English premier league where Indian player should go too
ECB should say cleanly if no Indian play in EPL then no English players in IpL— Shreyash (@Shreyash_2007) July 18, 2023
It's a great tournament + crowd support Also was great from the last 2 seasons!
THE HUNDRED 🥺💔— Kunal R (@Nuclya45) July 18, 2023
Jisne king ko Sataya usne rickshaw chalaya😭😔🙏 pic.twitter.com/fRyqzhbUw9
— Akku.⚡ (@akkuba56) July 18, 2023
