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Trouble for IPL, challenge for BCCI! This country to spend Rs 4300 crore to start new league, not Pakistan, Australia, England, the name is...
Saudi Arabia intends to allocate Rs 43,47,42,00,000 towards establishing a new global T20 cricket league, where teams will gather four times annually in different nations, adopting a format akin to tennis Grand Slam tournaments.
By Akshat Jain | Updated: March 15, 2025 4:15 PM IST
Saudi Arabia is preparing to make a significant impact in cricket world
Saudi Arabia is preparing to make a significant impact in the franchise cricket world with a massive USD 500 million (Rs 4347,42,00,000) funding for a new T20 tournament.
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This tournament will comprise eight teams and adopt a structure similar to a tennis Grand Slam
This tournament will comprise eight teams and adopt a structure similar to a tennis Grand Slam, with matches taking place in four diverse locations over the course of the year. Spearheading this bold initiative is SRJ Sports Investments, a prominent entity in Saudi Arabia, led by Danny Townsend, who offers extensive expertise from his tenure as the former CEO of the A-League. (Pic - Danny Townsend)
The concept has been secretly in the works for a year
"The concept has been secretly in the works for a year and is the brainchild of Australian Neil Maxwell, the former NSW and Victoria all-rounder who manages Australian captain Pat Cummins and is a former board member of the Australian Cricketers' Association and Cricket NSW," the report said.
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Increasing worries about the future of Test cricket
The report emphasizes the main goal of this initiative, which is to confront key challenges in the sports world. This includes tackling the increasing worries about the future of Test cricket, particularly beyond the top three teams of India, Australia and England.
There is no official confirmation about the planned league
At present, there is no official confirmation about the planned league, but sources suggest it will not overlap with other major T20 events and will have its own designated time frame. The league is expected to bring in new teams, including franchises from Australia and Saudi Arabia, and will host both men's and women's tournaments. There are also speculations that the final might be held in Saudi Arabia.
The League requires approval from the Australian Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC)
Looking forward, the league may encounter some challenges as it requires approval from the Australian Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council (ICC). Ultimately, the final decision could be in the hands of ICC chairman Jay Shah. Additionally, persuading cricket boards, particularly the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), to allow their players to participate could prove difficult. It's worth noting that Indian players typically aren't allowed to play in other T20 leagues to preserve the exclusivity of the Indian Premier League (IPL).