INDIAN investors could help put Durham County Cricket Club on the world stage in the sport.

The county champions for the past two years last night confirmed reports of the £2.4m cash input from “a longterm business associate” of club chairman Clive Leach.

Mumbai media mogul Gautam Radia has been named as the investor, but his role with the club appears to be very much “hands off”.

His involvement with Durham is said to have stretched back over three seasons, pre-dating the inception of the high profile and lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) version of the popular Twenty20 modern short-form of the game.

But it is thought Durham and other Test-match hosting venues in England may feature in future developments of Twenty20 cricket, perhaps as regional franchises in an extended version of the IPL.

The existing Friends Provident T20 tournament has been extended this season, and, despite fears in some quarters of overkill of Twenty20 cricket, consultants are looking into further potential to build on the interest in the quick-fire brand of the sport.

Following reports of the involvement of Mr Radia with Durham, the club issued a statement outlining the status of his investment.

“Durham CCC would like to clarify that the investment received dates from January 2008 when the club launched its ongoing fundraising.

“As such, it pre-dates the explosion in Twenty20 and is not linked to Twenty20 cricket.

“Durham CCC is looking forward to the launch of Friends Provident T20 later this summer and in common with all other counties, is keen to optimise the development of Twenty20 in England and Wales.

“The investor identified in news reports is a long-term business associate of Durham CCC chairman, Clive W Leach CBE, and has invested £2.4m in the club over the past three years, in support of the longterm development of the stadium and the club.

“The investor is not a director of the club and takes no part in the day-to-day management of the club, but, as a cricket lover and successful businessman, is very supportive of Durham CCC’s long-term ambitions.”

Durham’s chief executive, David Harker, said: “Durham CCC is delighted to have received investment support, and is actively seeking further investment as the club seeks to win a third successive LV County Championship title, continue to develop local players for England and stage an Ashes Test match in 2013.”

The club has sought outside investment to develop the Riverside ground, with the aim of having 20,000 permanent seats in place by the time the Australians arrive in three years.