Following its success in Formula One, Grand Prix, and LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia is now attempting to develop the world’s costliest Twenty20 competition, according to an Australian news outlet.
According to The Age, the Saudi government has undertaken conversations with Indian Premier League owners to secure the success of its next initiative. The authorities in the Gulf states want Indian players to take part in the projected franchise league.
Saudi Arabia’s Cricket League
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) now prohibits Indian players from competing in abroad T20 tournaments; however, the regulations can be eased if the Saudi government insists.
Cricket: Saudi Arabia seeks to set up world’s richest cricket competition https://t.co/piYd86By5b
— Malcolm Conn (@malcolmconn) April 13, 2023
According to reports, talks for the league have been ongoing since last year, however it would also need to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and authorised by its member countries.
Greg Barclay, head of the International Cricket Council, also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s interest in investing in cricket.
“If you look at other sports they’ve been involved in, I imagine cricket would be appealing to them,” he remarked.
“Given their general advancement in sports, cricket would work quite well for Saudi Arabia.”
“They’re eager to invest in sports, and given their regional presence, cricket seems like an obvious choice.”
The meeting’s specifics have yet to be revealed. According to the source, there is a chance that Indian players would be allowed to compete in the forthcoming league.
However, the BCCI’s rules prohibit Indian players from competing in any T20 league other than the IPL. To play in any other league, a player must be fully cut off from the BCCI. In terms of investment, the owners of IPL teams also hold franchises in other leagues.
Notably, the franchises in Cricket South Africa’s SA20 are entirely owned by people who own a club in the IPL, indicating that the Indian cricketing body’s rules do not prohibit teams from investing in other leagues.
As a result, it is vital to mention that Saudi Arabia would require the BCCI’s support to allow players to participate; otherwise, it would not be as popular as the IPL in India.
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