Saudi Arabia Looking To Enter Cricket With New T20 League

A proposed global Twenty20 cricket league, backed by Saudi Arabia, has emerged as a potential game-changer in the sport, conceived by a prominent Australian cricket figure, with the ambitious initiative anticipated to reshape the landscape of cricket in the coming decades.

The league plans to feature eight teams, resembling the format of tennis grand slams, wherein teams will compete across four distinct locations throughout the year. Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments, part of the country’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, is set to serve as the primary financier.

The project has reportedly been in development for a year, masterminded by Neil Maxwell, a former all-rounder for New South Wales and Victoria.

Maxwell is also known for managing Australian captain, Pat Cummins, alongside his tenure on the boards of both the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket NSW.

The initiative has garnered support from the Australian Cricketers’ Association, which aims to create new revenue streams to address critical issues, particularly the sustainability of test cricket outside of the established powerhouses: India, Australia, and England.

According to sources familiar with the discussions, a group of investors is poised to back this yet-unnamed global league, with Saudi Arabia projected to inject a staggering USD$500 million (approximately AUD$783 million) into the venture.

Saudi Arabia’s entrance into cricket aligns with its growing portfolio in international sports, which includes the LIV Golf series, a Formula 1 race, the hosting rights for the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup, and a majority stake in Newcastle United.

Notably, the Saudi Public Investment Fund recently acquired a minority stake in DAZN, a streaming service that now partly owns one of Australian cricket’s broadcasters.

While both Maxwell and Townsend have refrained from commenting, insider reports suggest that the league would be strategically scheduled during gaps in the cricket calendar, complementing existing international matches and popular domestic competitions like the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash League.

Franchise teams will be established in cricketing nations, including Australia and several new markets, featuring both men’s and women’s competitions, with a possibility of the final being hosted in Saudi Arabia.

This league aims to operate as an alternative revenue source to cricket’s existing financial structure, which tends to favour cricket’s major nations, particularly India, along with Australia and England, leaving smaller cricketing countries at a disadvantage.

The proposed league is designed to benefit these smaller nations, who will share in the generated funds, potentially leading to a reduction in unprofitable matches.

However, to proceed, the initiative requires the endorsement of member bodies such as Cricket Australia and the ICC, with key decision-making resting on Jay Shah, the chair of the ICC, who previously held a key role with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

His approval could also pave the way for Indian players to participate, contingent upon the BCCI’s willingness to ease restrictions on Indian cricketers playing in leagues outside the IPL.

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