When Will Saudi Arabia’s Richest Cricket League Start?

To give competition to the existing richest cricket league named Indian Premier League, there are multiple reports suggesting that Saudi Arabia is set to come up with a T20 league of its own.

Prince Saud bin Mishal al-Saud, the chairman of the Saudi cricket board has already made his intentions clear of making the nation “a global cricketing destination”. Most recently, named International League T20, a financially lucrative T20 league was launched in the UAE as well.

The country is trying to set benchmarks in different sports across the globe. Readers must note that Saudi League’s football club Al-Nassr had signed legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo for a whopping INR 1,770 crore last year. Apart from that, Newcastle United Football Club was acquired by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

When Will Saudi Arabia’s Richest Cricket League Start?

Despite so many news about the same, there is no concrete information about when the league will start. According to The Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Saudi government officials have approached the owners of IPL franchises to show interest in franchises for their T20 competition.

It is to note that six out of six SA20 and three out of six ILT20 League franchises were owned by IPL owners. Hence, it is clear that the franchises want to go global.

Saudi Arabia is targeting mission ‘Vision 2030’, where sports and entertainment will play a big part. Prince Saud was asked last month about launching a cricket league in the country, and he said that they will not just start one league. They are instead looking to establish a full model around the sport.

“There will be leagues on all levels, not just one league,” he had told Arab News.

Considering the amount of money they are investing, starting a cricket league won’t be a thing of concern. However, adjusting one more league in an already crowded cricketing calendar will not be healthy for international cricket.

The Gulf nation recently made partnerships with ICC (International Cricket Council) and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) as well. Saudi Aramco, the national petrol company, agreed a commercial deal with ICC which includes the World Championship Final 2023. In February 2023, Saudi tourism authority joined Aramco among key sponsors for IPL 2023.

Will Indian players play in Saudi Arabia Cricket League?

After IPL franchises were linked with the competition, there were quite a few questions regarding Indian players’ participation in the league. However, BCCI have made it clear that the players won’t be allowed to play in the competition, but they cannot control the franchises from owning different teams.

“No current Indian players will be taking part in any of the leagues, but as far as franchise participation is concerned, we can’t stop them,” a top BCCI official told The Indian Express.