Oval Invincibles at centre of Hundred row over new rules for signing players

The Oval Invincibles, the winners of the Hundred competition for three consecutive years, are at the center of a dispute over new rules for signing players for the upcoming season. Some investors are pushing to break up the dominant men's squad, while the competition's board is at odds over the player retention policies. The franchises have decided to move away from the draft system and adopt an IPL-style open auction. However, they have not yet reached an agreement on the number of players each team will be allowed to retain from their existing squads, if any. This has led to a contentious debate within the league's governing body. The article suggests that the decision to change the player signing rules is driven by a desire from some new investors to disrupt the Oval Invincibles' dominance in the competition. The ongoing dispute reflects the complexities and power dynamics within the Hundred league as it seeks to balance competitive balance and the interests of different stakeholders.