Overview

• The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has increased top salaries in the Hundred, with men’s contracts rising by 60% to £200,000 and women’s by 30% to £65,000, further widening the gender pay gap.
• The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and players have expressed dissatisfaction, citing a lack of consultation and the disproportionate benefit to top-tier male and overseas players.
• Regulations limiting players’ participation in overseas franchise leagues have prompted some players to consider boycotting the tournament, calling the restrictions a restraint of trade.
• The ECB is seeking to attract top international talent to compete with rival leagues and boost the tournament’s appeal, as it transitions ownership stakes to new investors.
• The sale of equity in the Hundred’s eight teams is ongoing, with IPL franchises and other investors bidding, though the ECB insists it will avoid an IPL-dominated ownership structure.