ECB keen for England to host IPL matches as new chief makes NFL and NBA comparison

New ECB chair Richard Thompson is hopeful that England will be able to host Indian Premier League matches as the tournament continues to grow.

Thompson wants to double attendances from two million to four million and believes hosting IPL games, which would tap into the strong south Asian fanbase across the country, will help the ECB achieve that goal.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Thompson said he hopes to put cricket "on an equal footing [with] football." He said: "We have seen the value when India and Pakistan are playing over here during World Cups and Champions Trophies.

"The NBA and NFL come here, so why can't we host the IPL? The IPL has grown its window by another three weeks and I don't think it cannibalises other competitions because [many England] players are playing in it anyway."

It emerged last year that talks had been held with BCCI and IPL officials about teams playing games at the Oval and Lord's, with Thompson involved as Surrey chair. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, also supported the venture.

"Surrey are speaking to teams in India and colleagues in the BCCI and IPL," Khan said. "The first step will be friendlies and exhibition matches.

New ECB chair Richard Thompson is keen for England to host IPL matches (Ben Hoskins/Getty Images for Surrey CCC)

"We want to get them going, maybe even this year if we make progress as we are doing with the pandemic. It has to be Covid-safe, of course. We have to bang the drum for our city, and sport is one way to do this."

Surrey and the MCC, who own Lord's, added that hosting IPL games would be a "hugely exciting project". They said: "We support the Mayor of London's ambitions to bring the Indian Premier League to London and are keen to work with the administration to make this a reality.

"The incredible energy, diversity and passion of the crowds at both our venues during the Men's ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 demonstrated London's extraordinary potential as a home for global games. Following in the footsteps of the NFL and MLB by bringing one of the world's largest leagues to the capital, would be a hugely exciting project for our city and the wider game in this country."