Hampshire is set to become the first English county cricket club to be owned by an overseas franchise after entering into a 鈥減hased acquisition鈥� with the part-owner of Indian Premier League team Delhi Capitals.
The deal was described by Hampshire, a county in the south of England, as 鈥渢he start of a significant strategic partnership鈥� with GMR Global Pte Ltd that will see the Indian conglomerate initially buy a majority stake before likely taking 100% ownership 鈥渨ithin the next 24 months.鈥�
鈥淏ecoming the first English cricket club to join an international cricket group will open exciting new opportunities as we embrace the globalization of this great sport," said Hampshire majority shareholder Rod Bransgrove, who stood down as chairman last year amid reports he was in negotiations with a new investor.
As well as a 50% stake in Delhi Capitals, GMR also owns shares in the fellow cricket teams Dubai Capitals and the Pretoria Capitals, as well as investing in the Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket in the U.S.
Hampshire is a two-time English county champion which won the country's top Twenty20 competition 鈥� the Blast 鈥� in 2022. The team plays at the Rose Bowl, which has hosted England tests and limited-overs internationals.
Hampshire said GMR 鈥渉as committed to furthering the development of Hampshire鈥檚 cricket teams and pathways鈥� and has underlined the importance of 鈥渞especting the traditions and culture of the game in England and Wales.鈥�
鈥淭his is the fulfilment of a dream for me,鈥� Bransgrove said, 鈥渁nd, I hope, for all Hampshire Cricket supporters.鈥�
Richard Gould, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, said the deal 鈥渄emonstrates the global interest in investing in cricket in England and Wales, and underlines the continuing appeal of county cricket.鈥�
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AP cricket:
Steve Douglas, The Associated Press
