Indian-Owned Franchises Across T20 Leagues (iplt20.com)In a recent development, reports have been circulating that Pakistan cricketers will not be considered by Indian teams for the next month’s The Hundred auction. It is important to note that this decision stems from the ongoing and ever-lasting diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring nations. Notably, four of The Hundred’s eight franchises - Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds - are at least partly owned by companies that control IPL teams.According to the BBC Sport, a senior official from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) told sources that interest in Pakistan players would be limited or, to some extent, will be ignored by Indian teams in the league. However, this isn’t the first time that Indian-backed T20 franchises are planning to use the "unwritten rule" to ignore Pakistani cricketers in their teams. The same has been noticed before in other global T20 leagues. That being said, let’s explore the expanding reach of IPL sister franchises in the world. All Indian Teams across T20 LeaguesOver the past few years, IPL franchise owners have expanded globally, controlling multiple teams in major T20 leagues, including SA20, ILT20, MLC, and CPL. Further, they established a universally dominant fanbase while prominently excluding Pakistan players from their squads. IPL team owners like Reliance (MI), RPSG (LSG), KKR, DC, SRH, and RR own franchises in South Africa, the UAE, the USA, and the Caribbean. Also Read: KKR’s IPL Fate Turns Bad To Worse As 18 Cr-Buy Matheesha Pathirana Hobbles Off Field InjuredHere’s a breakdown of key franchises backed by Indian companies in global tournaments: SA20: All six teams are owned by Indian Premier League (IPL) team owners In South Africa’s top T20 franchise cricket competition, the SA20 league, all six franchise are owned by Indian teams, in an effort to expand their franchises internationally. The Mumbai Indian purchased the Cape Town-based team and named it MI Cape Town. The Johannesburg franchise, Joburg Super Kings, was purchased by the Chennai Super Kings.The owners of the Delhi Capitals own the Pretoria Capitals. The owners of the Rajasthan Royals hold the Paarl Royals franchise. Moreover, the owners of Sunrisers Hyderabad had called their team Sunrisers Eastern Cape.ILT20: 5 teams, except Desert Vipors, are owned by Indian business conglomerates and team ownersIn the UAE's International League T20 (ILT20), 5 out of the 6 teams are Indian teams. MI Emirates is owned by Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (a subsidiary of Reliance Industries), which also owns the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders was acquired by the Red Chillies Entertainment consortium. This group also operates Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL). Dubai Capitals, owned by the GMR Group, is another ILT20 team, co-owned by the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.Gulf Giants is obtained by Adani Sportsline Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Indian conglomerate Adani Group, which is also associated with the Gujarat Titans in IPL.Lastly, Sharjah Warriors is a sister franchise of the Women's Premier League (WPL) team UP Warriorz and is owned by Capri Global Capital Limited.MLC: Four out of six teams are controlled by IPL team owners Ahead of the inaugural season of Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, four out of six teams are Indian teams. MI New York (MINY): Indiawin Sports Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, is the owner of the New York-based franchise and also owns the five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians.LA Knight Riders (LAKR): It is owned by the Knight Riders Group, which also manages the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. Texas Super Kings (TSK): As the name suggests, the Texas-based franchise is co-owned by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and American investors. Seattle Orcas: This franchise is co-owned by the GMR Groups (co-owners of the Delhi Capitals in the IPL) along with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other investors. Also Read: Watch- Vaibhav Suryavanshi Breaks Water Pipe With Massive Six During RR’s IPL PrepCPL: Three of the six main teams under Indian ownershipThe Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has significant investment from Indian Premier League franchise owners, with three of the six main teams under Indian ownership. Tribago Knight Riders (TKR): The Red Chillies Entertainment, the same group that owns the IPL’s KKR, took over the franchise in 2015. Barbados Royals: Formerly known as Barbados Tridents, the Royals is owned by the Royals Sports Group (Manoj Badale), the same group that also owns the Rajasthan Royals and acquired the CPL franchise in 2021, rebranding its name later. Saint Lucia Kings: Owned by KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited, the consortium that owns the IPL’s Punjab Kings. The Hundred: 4 franchises under Indian ownership or partnership Recently, all eight franchises in The Hundred have sold ownership stakes ahead of the sixth season of the competition. Notably, four teams are owned by companies with stakes in Indian Premier League sides, while the other four are supported by American investment. Manchester Super Giants: Indian company RPSG Group purchased 70% of the franchise for £81m. The group has also invested in the IPL side Lucknow Super Giants. Sunrisers Leeds were sold in their entirety to the group behind IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa. The Sun Group paid £100m to buy the Headingley-based club. MI London is owned by the Indian multi-billionaire Ambani family. Their company, Reliance Industries Limited, also owns the Mumbai Indians and completed a 49% purchase in December 2025, while Surrey holds the majority.Southern Brave is also owned by the co-owners of IPL outfit Delhi Capitals, GMR Group. Indian teams to ignore Pakistan players across T20 leaguesIt is worth noting that no Pakistan players have featured in the SA20 in South Africa, as all six of its teams are owned by IPL franchise groups. In the UAE’s ILT20, franchises controlled by the owners of MI London and Southern Brave have deliberately not signed Pakistani players across all four seasons. In contrast, the Desert Vipers have signed 8 Pakistan players over the same period. Moreover, in January 2026, IPL side KKR released Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman after being instructed to do so by the BCCI. Thus, a clear motive to keep the nation above has been seen amid the strained political tensions between India, Pakistan, and now Bangladesh. Also Read: Saim Ayub, Shaheen Afridi Openly Challenge IPL Teams In The Hundred
