The Saudi Arabian government is planning to create the world’s richest T20 league in the Gulf region and has proposed plans to the IPL owners to do so.
The Saudi Arabian government is actively investing in many sports, with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and LIV Golf making their way into Formula One. The next goal is to maximize cricket’s untapped potential. The Gulf nation plans to create the richest T20 league in the world and has approached IPL owners to join as sponsors of the 2023 IPL season.
Under the existing rules of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian players cannot participate in foreign T20 leagues. The proposal by Saudi Arabian government officials for its richest T20 league could persuade BCCI to reform its rules.
According to a report in The Age, talks about a Saudi Arabian league have been going on for almost a year, and any potential league to form in the Gulf would need international approval. Cricket Council (ICC) and all member states.
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The Gulf Kingdom has often been accused of trying to cover up its human rights record through its sports investments. The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund invests massively in sports and chief events around the world, with its takeover of Newcastle United, a Premier League club.
ICC Chairman Greg Barclay confirmed that Saudi Arabia plans to invest heavily in cricket after investing money in other sports such as football and F1.
The report also notes that Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen its ties with India through cricket. Saudi Arabia projects to become the number one tourist destination for Indians by 2030. Currently, the UAE is the preferred nation when matches are played in the Gulf and the UAE also hosted the IPL when the Covid-19 outbreak in India forced the league to shift outside.
The UAE also launched its own T20 league, ILT20, last year, with several IPL owners becoming prospects.
However, the president of the Saudi Cricket Federation, Prince Saud bin Mishaal Al-Saud, hopes that Saudi Arabia can become the “Global Cricket Destination” in the future.
