In what would be a significant shift in the global cricketing landscape, reports have emerged from England that Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals have made an offer to take over English domestic county Yorkshire.
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Yorkshire have been in crisis for a few years now, with the team needing to pay off a sum of £15million to the family trust of former chairman Colin Graves, which has proven difficult to get together.
The management of the county have held talks with businessman Mike Ashley and Saudi Arabian Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud to this end, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Will Rajasthan Royals take over English county team Yorkshire?
Yorkshire have also held discussions with other IPL franchises over possible loans, but Rajasthan Royals have not only offered to take care of the debt, but have mooted a total package of £25million in order to take complete control of the club, out of the hands of its members.
English cricket has in recent years been keen on foreign investment, particularly in The Hundred and its T20 franchises, but an IPL franchise taking over a county team which also participates in first-class and List A competitions would be a first.
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The Royals' CEO, Jake Lush McCrum, is a graduate of Leeds University in Yorkshire, and taking over the county would also allow the franchise a certain amount of control over an iconic cricketing venue in the Headingley ground.
Rajasthan Royals, owned in majority by Manoj Badale, already have stakes in overseas T20 franchises Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League and Paarl Royals in the SA20.
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