The founding teams of the franchise are the Rajasthan Royals in India – winners of the inaugural Indian Premier League in 2008 – and the Hampshire Royals in England, which will change its name from the Hampshire Hawks, although the England and Wales Cricket Board has yet to receive full details about the proposals.
Negotiations are also being finalised for Trinidad and Tobago, Cape Cobras in South Africa and a leading domestic team in Australia to become Royals.
Manoj Badale, Chairman, and co-founder of the Rajasthan Royals and Royals2020 said: “This is a major innovation in World Sport, and it represents a great opportunity for the clubs, but also an opportunity for fans and sponsors to be part of something totally unique and exciting. The response that we have had from fans overseas over the past two seasons has convinced us to expand our ambition.”
Other parts of the deal include clubs wearing the same strips and players being allowed to move to other Royals teams if domestic rules allow.
