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Shane Warne and Rajasthan Royals spearhead global IPL pursuit
Plans to form the first global sporting were announced at Lord’s this morning with Rajasthan Royals of the Indian Premier League spearheading an initiative involving teams from around the world.
Rajasthan, captained by Shane Warne, have signed an historic link with Hampshire and are in the final stages of talks with Cape Cobras of South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago and an unnamed Australian state side.
The new franchise, entitled Royals 2020, was initially revealed by Telegraph Sport last week and is the first sign of the IPL spreading beyond Indian borders.
For Rajasthan the aim is to grow their fan base and commercial strength with roots in each major cricketing nation. An annual tournament, known as the Royals Festival, featuring the Royals 2020 teams will be announced at a later date.
Rajasthan claim that for Hampshire and the other Royals partners the deal opens up commercial opportunities and the potential for knowledge and talent sharing with a central revenue pool from sponsorship part of the long-term plan.
Hampshire will now play as the Hampshire Royals in the Twenty20 Cup next season with Cape Cobras and Trinidad also set to agree to the Royals branding.
“I am delighted to be part of this new innovation, and I am excited by what we can achieve, given what we have already achieved,” said Warne, a former Hampshire player. “Yet again, the Royals are leading the way. It is bonus that clubs with which I have such deep affection are so involved.”
For players this deal may open up opportunities to play for five clubs in different continents under the same banner. Rajasthan Royals also hope they will now be able to spot young, talented Twenty20 cricketers.
Rajasthan were the inaugural Twenty20 champions in 2008 and are part-owned by Manoj Badale, a London based businessman, and the Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.
“This is a major innovation in world sport, and it represents a great opportunity for the clubs, but also an opportunity for fans and sponsors to be part of something totally unique and exciting,” said Badale.
“The response that we have had from fans overseas over the past two seasons has convinced us to expand our ambition.”
Rajasthan hope to finalise details with their other partners over the next few weeks and representatives from Trinidad and Tobago and the Cape Cobras were due to be at this morning’s announcement.
“We have been talking about and developing this partnership since the IPL last year,” said a statement by Mohamed Ebrahim, and Andre Odendaal, chairman and chief executive of the Cape Cobras. “We look forward to finalising formal agreements in the next weeks, as this new ‘family’ will be opening up a whole new path in cricket.”