The England and Wales Cricket Board is scratching its head at Yorkshire's £1.75 million payment to the company of its chief executive, Sanjay Patel – a decision that has sparked a review into the matter. The figures are staggering: £1.75 million paid out for consultancy services linked to the sale of the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred cricket competition, with SMP73 Ltd, Mr Patel's 75%-owned company, cashing in on corporate broker services.
It's a payment that raises eyebrows, especially given Mr Patel's formative role in creating The Hundred during his nine-year tenure at the ECB, where he served as chief commercial officer. Now, as Yorkshire's CEO, he's at the helm of a club that received £60 million for its 51% stake in the Northern Superchargers, plus an additional £20 million from the ECB's 49% share – a massive £40 million windfall for Yorkshire alone.
The review by the ECB is said to have started last week, with no formal investigation launched yet. However, the Cricket Regulator could still be brought in to oversee the matter and determine whether any rules have been broken. The timing is crucial: it's a sensitive moment for Yorkshire, which has faced significant financial challenges, including debts of over £25 million owed to chair Colin Graves' family trust, now repaid following the Hundred sale.
Yorkshire's accounts show that SMP73 completed its work 'prior to his appointment as chief executive officer', but Mr Patel had already been involved at Headingley for 18 months – initially as a non-executive director in February 2024 and later as interim CEO. Sources claim he was not employed by the club when the payment arrangement was established, but rather engaged as a consultant with a specific remit to broker the franchise sale.
This is a story that's all too familiar for Yorkshire fans – the club has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including a £400,000 fine and 48-point deduction in the County Championship due to racism and discrimination allegations. The ECB will be keen to get to the bottom of this payment and ensure that everything was done above board.