Sanjay Patel is to depart his place as managing director of the Hundred following the conclusion of this 12 months's competitors.

Patel, the person behind the ECB's introduction of 100-ball cricket, was beforehand chief gross sales and advertising officer earlier than taking cost of the Hundred when it was unveiled as an idea in 2018.

His departure comes at a time of uncertainty over the way forward for the competitors, with newspaper reviews in current weeks suggesting the ECB might drop the format and refocus its consideration on its T20 providing.

"I'd like to thank Sanjay for all his work and dedication at the ECB over many years, and wish him the very best for the future," Richard Gould, the ECB's chief govt officer, mentioned.

"There's no doubt that the Hundred has been a success, helping cricket reach new audiences, bringing in important revenue and propelling the game forwards. It plays an important role in our game and I'm looking forward to a very long and successful future for the Hundred."

The Hundred has been controversial from the beginning, with the ECB accused of alienating cricket's conventional fanbase in pursuit of recent audiences. Its launch was pushed again a 12 months to 2021 by the Covid-19 pandemic, whereas a current report by Fanos Hira, Worcestershire's chairman, prompt the competitors had made a £9 million loss in its first two seasons.

However, the return of cricket to free-to-air TV, through the BBC, and its function in giving the ladies's sport the next profile have been credited with making a extra various enchantment.

Patel mentioned: "I would like to thank Sky, the BBC, and all our commercial partners for their support.

"I might additionally notably wish to thank my entire staff for his or her arduous work and dedication in launching the competitors. I'll at all times be pleased about their assist and friendship. We have come a good distance in a brief area of time and it's right down to their brilliance.

"I will miss this job and the people immensely but once we've completed the third season of The Hundred I believe the time will be right for me to look for a new adventure."