Event: The Business of Cricket - London

Subject: The Business of Cricket
Date: Thursday 8th March 6-30pm prompt start

Guest Speaker: Mihir Bose, legendary sports journalist, former BBC Sports Editor.
Guest Speaker: Christopher Martin-Jenkins, BBC Test Match Special.
Guest Speaker: Lawrence Booth, Editor, Wisden.

Location: Pinsent Masons, 30 Crown Place, Earl Street, London EC2A 4ES

It's a truth universally acknowledged, that sport and money make uncomfortable bedfellows. In comparison to other sports like football, golf and baseball, commercialisation came relatively late to the genteel world of cricket. Even in the 1960s, cricket centered on a five-day Test Match format, involving amateurs and professionals, with no real focus on maximising revenue or paying the best players well. The introduction of one-day cricket and complete professionalisation in the 1970s, began attempts to bring more money into the game. Still, many cricketers who were graduates from middle-class backgrounds, could have earned more by being accountants or lawyers.

The transformation of cricket took place in India in 2008 with the invention of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and a TV friendly 20 overs format with all the razzle-dazzle of Bollywood. In a short space of time, the IPL has given India one of the most successful domestic sports competitions in the world. TV rights are sold for billions of dollars and cricketers can earn a few million dollars for six weeks’ work, wages which even top footballers cannot aspire to.

Whilst India is now the rich man of world cricket, generating over 80 per cent of world cricket's income, tensions are beginning to emerge between the commercialisation of the game and its culture and long term health. One thing is for certain, cricket will never be the same.


The Business of Cricket event will examine the following subjects, amongst others:

The impact of 20/20 cricket on Test cricket;
How should world cricket be governed to protect it from narrow commercial interests ?
The use of technology in cricket;
How to combat illegal betting and corruption ?
Could 20/20 cricket help spread the game around the world ?
Is India too powerful in world cricket ?
The spirit of cricket and the ability of the game to bring diverse nations and cultures together.


Event Programme

18-30 Drinks and Networking
19-00 Cricket panel discussion followed by Q & A
20-00 Drinks Reception and Networking
21-30 Close


Sponsors: Pinsent Masons

Come and join CEO's, corporate executives, professionals, and the media from across UK, Europe, and India, for drinks, canapés and a networking reception.


Tickets: GBP £40 + VAT
The ticket price includes drinks and canapes (wine, beer, soft drinks)


For further information and to register online for this event, please visit www.plus-91.com and click on the Guest Register button on the homepage. The number of attendees will be limited and acceptances are on a first come first served basis. All major credit/debit cards are accepted. When payment has been successfully made, you will receive a confirmation email from Pay Pal and your name will be automatically added to the attendee list.

Demand for this event will be high. YOU ARE ADVISED TO REGISTER EARLY. (If you are purchasing a ticket for someone else, please add their name and company details in the Comments section on the payment form or send an email to +91 Europe with this information. This is for the purpose of name badges.) www.plus-91.com




Rakesh Rawal | Founder and CEO, +91 Europe | M: +44 7 956 101 101 | E: rakesh.rawal@plus-91.com | W: www.plus-91.com |
+91 Europe - International network of CEO's, corporate executives and professionals.




About +91

+91's membership is a global network of top Indian CEO's, corporate executives and professionals, moving across continents to transact business. +91 events are designed to facilitate an exchange of ideas, encourage entrepreneurship and promote business links by building strong relationships between European and Indian business leaders in a wide range of sectors.

Membership is open to everyone interested in international business. The name "+91" represents not only the international telephone dialling code and therefore unique identifier for India, but also symbolises the growing numbers of people who want to connect with India.

+91 has succeeded in attracting the most high profile speakers from the worlds of business, media, sport and politics. Previous speakers have included:

Tom Purves, CEO, Rolls-Royce; Willie Walsh, CEO, British Airways; Lord Neil Kinnock, Vice-President, European Commission; Rt Hon Lord Michael Howard QC; Michael Wood, BBC Broadcaster; Yamini Mehta, Head of Indian Art, Christie's; Brent Hoberman, CEO, lastminute. com; Mihir Bose, former BBC Sports Editor; Ian Ayre, Commercial Director, Liverpool FC; Robert Elstone, CEO, Everton FC; Peter Luff MP, Chairman, House of Commons, Trade and Industry Select Committee; John Makinson, Chairman and CEO, Penguin Books; Jaideep Prabhu, Nehru Professor of Indian Business and Enterprise, Cambridge University; Ian Louden, Global Head of Brand, ArcelorMittal; Manchester United legend Brian McClair; Aram Shishmanian, CEO, World Gold Council; amongst many others.

Pictures of past events can be viewed at www.plus-91.com Click on Past Events button.