CVC Capital Partners is in talks about buying one of the Hundred franchises in what would be the first private equity investment in English cricket. The England and Wales Cricket Board issued sales decks for the eight franchises to interested parties on Friday and all 10 Indian Premier League owners are set to compete with CVC in a complex sales process it is hoped will be completed by Christmas.
CVC is understood to be primarily targeting the Oval Invincibles and the private equity investors’ executives have attended matches at the south London ground this summer. The move could provoke a backlash from cricket supporters, however, and may even be opposed by the host club, Surrey, who intend to keep hold of their 51% stake in the Invincibles.
