Focus on preserving legacy of Manchester: Originals owner

LONDON: Strong winds of change are blowing across English cricket with Indian corporates acquiring ownership of franchises in The Hundred. While there are some concerns that these acquisitions can impact the culture of English cricket, the RPSG group, owners of Lucknow Super Giants and Durban Super Giants, are focused on preserving the heritage of Lancashire County as they go into the ‘The Hundred’ season with Manchester Originals.The first step towards it has been appointing local boy Phil Salt the captain of the franchise. RPSG group chairman Sanjiv Goenka has claimed that Jos Buttler had declined the offer to lead the side as he felt he was a better player if he was not captaining a side. “I had discussions with Jos. He said he will captain the side if I insist. But I felt it was not right to force him. Salt is a product of Lancashire and has been doing really well.

So, it made more sense to appoint him the captain,” Goenka told TOI .Goenka emphasised that it was imperative to honour the heritage and history of clubs like Lancashire. “We are conscious of the legacies of these clubs. We have acquired other legacy brands earlier as well. We understand the importance of preserving the legacy and heritage like we are careful about Mohun Bagan,” Goenka said.“The heritage helps in a big way.

You get a readymade fanbase. Manchester is a very renowned sports city in the UK. The culture is very strong. The stadium has a good capacity. We understand that we need to retain the advantage,” he said.Salt, too, harped on the culture of the city and the loyal fan base. “To captain Manchester Originals — in the city where I grew up, where I first fell in love with the game — is more than just an honour. We’ve got a strong squad, a loyal fan base, and a lot of ambition. I can’t wait to get stuck in and make this city proud,” Salt said.“I’ve walked into Old Trafford as a boy with wide eyes, and now I walk in with the responsibility to lead a group of world-class players. I’m excited to begin this chapter under Dr Goenka’s visionary leadership,” he added.