GMR group become the first IPL franchise outfit to buy a stake in an English County.

Hampshire will become the first English county to have overseas ownership after the club's parent company agreed the sale of a majority stake to GMR Group, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate that owns teams in various T20 leagues,

Rod Bransgrove was the owner and the majority shareholder up until the deal was completed. Referring to the multi million pound deal, the 73 year old said "It (Hampshire) can get to the top table of English cricket and the top table of world cricket and sustain that position.

English cricket team Hampshire is set to be bought by part-owner of IPL franchise Delhi Capitals. View on euronews

Hampshire have confirmed the sale of a 53% stake in the county team to the GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. In completing this historic move, Hampshire have become the first county to be owned by an overseas party,