Marylebone Cricket Club goes global to speed up Lord's redevelopment plans

London, Apr 15(ANI): The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) wants to speed up a sweeping ten-year 400 million pound redevelopment of Lord's Cricket Ground by seeking funding from wealthy individuals and businesses around the world.

According to reports, advertisements will be placed to attract the investors through publications in Britain and overseas next week, including in India, the United States and Australia.

The project incorporates the rebuilding of five stands, the construction of an underground "village" at the Nursery End and the expansion of the disused railway tunnels alongside Wellington Road in addition to five blocks of apartments, which will command high prices in this prime area of London, The Times Online reports.

The plan will be significantly financed through the sale of apartments to be built at the Nursery End.

This could pave the way for a link with an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise or American investors similar to the donation made by late J. Paul Getty for the Mound Stand in 1987.

Over reports that investors will want a tangible return and look to rename the ground, Keith Bradshaw, the MCC Secretary, said the committee is adamant that Lord's will not be renamed, nor will any of the rebuilt stands be named other than after distinguished former cricketers.

He added that a preferred solution would be to rename the media centre, which will survive the dismantling of numerous buildings. (ANI)