ECB boss Richard Gould is confident the sale of the eight hundred franchises can fund county cricket for the ‘next 20 to 25 years’

ECB chief executive Richard Gould insisted the sale of the eight hundred franchises could fund county cricket for the next two decades and beyond, as the bidding process by private investors nears the end of its second phase.

The 110 letters of interest from potential buyers for the first phase have dwindled significantly, but Gould remains optimistic about selling all eight teams between “February and the end of the summer” and said there were “multiple offers” for each team. The ECB believe they can easily exceed their minimum target of £350m.

He warned that “railings” would be put in place to ensure that the money to be distributed between the 18 first-class counties and the MCC was properly invested.

“We’re not counting our chickens yet,” said Gould, who is in Hamilton for England’s third and final Test against New Zealand. “But the goal is to raise significant investment that goes into the game. I hope this will recapitalize the county game for the next 20 to 25 years if this money is put to really good use.

Gould played down concerns raised by the Professional Cricketers’ Association that pay rises for next summer’s Hundred have been pushed through despite a “severe lack of communication and consultation” and risk leaving cricketers further down the food chain under-rewarded.

The top men’s salary rises from £125,000 to £200,000 and the women’s equivalent from £50,000 to £65,000, and Gould admitted: “Of course there is a minority of male players who are not happy with the result.”

Richard Gould says the sale of the eight hundred franchises could secure county cricket

Bidding by private investors is nearing the end of its second phase

But he denied that the PCA had not been properly consulted by the ECB and said: “If you add up all the player announcements we’ve made in the last 18 months, that amounts to over £15m a year extra that we’re putting into the pot.

“This is because we realize how important the players are. We are in a global market and we need to be able to compete properly for these players.

“Sometimes the language can be relatively raw on these issues because you’re dealing with quite strong emotions sometimes.”

Gould also said he had not heard talk of strike action from players who are said to be unhappy with the board’s refusal to allow county cricketers on red-ball contracts to play in overseas franchise competitions that clash with the domestic season.

Meanwhile, ECB chairman Richard Thompson denied that the sale of the Hundred teams would not “end up as a takeover of the IPL”, amid speculation that Indian investors would dominate the bidding.

Thompson told Wisden Cricket Monthly: “There is a huge amount of American money involved – very sophisticated investors who understand franchise sport … and are looking at the long term.

“They know we have the best time zone in the world. And if you want to maximize cricket’s media rights, look at the fact that rugby and football have such incredibly successful domestic products and we don’t. They see how invaluable it is.