The Welsh Flames are the worst team in the Hundred’s brief history.
Last year, both the men’s and women’s teams finished last. Neither side has won the tournament and has yet to reach the play-offs.
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But tech billionaire Sanjay Govil sees things differently.
Behind a regrettable record of statistics and rankings, the Indian-American IT entrepreneur saw a unique opportunity that no other Top 100 franchise offered.
So much so that he committed to beating out 15 potential owners in last year’s sale of The Hundred franchise to buy 50% of the team for £40 million.
“With Welsh Fire you don’t just get the support of one team but the whole country,” Govil told BBC Sport Wales.
“Last year they finished last in both the men’s and women’s 100m. So we do have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
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“The way we’ve always operated is we want to build a team and let it grow.”
Add salt to the fire
Despite having only visited Wales once before, Govil has not lost sight of the importance of creating a connection between the team and the people it represents.
He hopes strategic decisions on and off the pitch will highlight the Welsh Flames’ unique status as the only team with “national support” and bring people closer to the divisive rivalry.
Four of the Centurions’ teams have changed their names in line with their ownership brands around the world, but despite owning Major League Baseball’s (MLC) Washington Liberty, that was never an option for the Montreal-born businessman.
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“I’m not here to change the name or that we’re going to take over, I want this to be a Welsh team.
“Look at Phil Salter, he’s Welsh but he’s never played football [for Welsh Fire] Now, in our first year of being able to bring him in. Bringing Phil Salter to Wales is one of my main targets. “
Welshman Phil Salt, the top run-scorer in the men’s game, has only played for Manchester Originals [Getty Images]
This week’s auction could provide another opportunity for Govil to inject some Welsh talent into his new side.
Aneurin Donald’s strike rate of 216.9 was the highest in last year’s T20 Blast and the Swansea-born batsman impressed the Derby County side and could be a shrewd addition.
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Chepstow’s Ben Kellaway has had a breakthrough summer in Glamorgan. The all-rounder has gone from strength to strength, earning himself a hundred with the Welsh Flames in the process, and it won’t be a surprise if history repeats itself.
Although he is not Welsh-born, Glamorgan’s Asa tribe would be an attractive option if Govier and his coaching staff are looking to strengthen the Flames’ links with Wales.
The 21-year-old is coming off a difficult winter having impressed in both the SA20’s red-ball tour of Australia with Palli Royals and England Lions, and the white-ball tour of Pakistan’s Shaheen side.
Alex Griffiths is one of only two Welsh women to have played for the Flames and the 23-year-old is hoping to secure another deal at auction.
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“History of Victory”
Govil is the founder and chairman of Infinite Computer Solutions, a company with $2 billion in annual revenue and 20,000 employees worldwide. He also owns Zyter TruCare, one of the leading healthcare technology platforms with 43 million members.
But it wasn’t just a love of cricket that prompted Govil to give up millions.
“One of the main attractions of the Centurions is that they have women’s cricket. There are a lot of young girls playing in America now and the game in England is much more mature.
“The recent Women’s World Cup has taken cricket to a different level. Women’s sports in general, it’s been really cool to see how well they’re doing. The WNBA is doing really well, the Women’s Soccer League is doing really well, so I see a similar trajectory in women’s cricket,” Govil said.
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While Govil may be new to Wales, he is quick to point out that he is familiar with the team’s success.
His Washington Liberty won the most games in three years in the MLC, taking home the trophy in 2024 and finishing second in 2025.
“I have a history of doing this, not just with the Washington Liberty. I had a professional badminton team in India and we won the championship the first year,” said the entrepreneur from Maryland.
“Even the business, I took over assets that were really underperforming and turned them around.”
What’s the secret to his success?
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“It’s all about looking at the big picture, having the right components and creating an environment that’s very conducive to success,” he explains.
Fire is already busy getting the right components.
Salter, Chris Woakes, Marco Janssen and Lachin Ravindra signed directly to join the men’s side, while Freya Kemp, Georgia Wareham and Georgia Wall signed for the women’s side.
If Govil is to successfully turn around his new side’s fortunes, their performance on the pitch will need to reflect his own bold confidence.
The next step in building the team will come at this week’s first auction.
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As well as the opportunity to build a competitive squad, Govil will also have the opportunity to discover Welsh talent and create an identity that is more relatable to fans.
Then, hopefully, take that history of success to places that haven’t been experienced yet.
