The Hundred: MCC members vote to accept 51% stake in London Spirit

Marylebone Cricket Club members have voted to accept a 51% stake in London Spirit ahead of the upcoming sale of The Hundred franchises.

The vote took place following a special general meeting called by MCC, the owners of Lord’s, in which 81.12% of the 6,037 valid votes were cast in favor of acquiring a majority stake in Spirit.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already begun the process of selling stakes in the tournament’s eight franchises.

As part of the process, The Hundred’s eight team owners will receive a 51% stake, which they can sell or keep, while the remaining 49% in each team will be sold to the ECB.

An MCC spokesman told BBC Sport that The Hundred’s management team will “continue to work with the ECB on the progress of the sales process” on behalf of its committee.

They added that the MCC has the right to “exercise the club’s veto power over the investment partner” if required.

Earlier this year, the ECB appointed Raine Group and Deloitte as sales consultants for The Hundred franchises.

The money raised from the sale of each team’s 49% stake will be distributed among the 18 first-class districts, the MCC and the recreational game.