Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring the establishment of a high-paying T20 cricket tournament, which is backed by the Indian Premier League (IPL) owners and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to a report in The Age, Saudi Arabian government representatives have held informal discussions with IPL owners over the past year about the possibility of setting up a T20 event in the Asian nation. The combined financial backing of Saudi businesses and IPL conglomerates could make it one of the world’s richest T20 competitions.
The proposed event could permit Indian cricketers to participate, despite the BCCI’s current ban on Indian players competing in overseas T20 tournaments. However, any domestic T20 tournament would need to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and approved by its members, while national boards have to provide No Objection Certificates for players to compete in overseas T20 tournaments.
The Gulf state has been accused of “sportswashing” – expanding its sports portfolio to distract from its human rights record. The country has recently purchased Newcastle United in the English Premier League, signed Cristiano Ronaldo for the Al Nassr club, bankrolled the LIV Golf circuit overseen by Greg Norman, and hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Saudi Arabia, an associate member of the ICC, has reportedly approached IPL owners regarding the event to ensure the participation of Indian players. The IPL has already purchased multiple T20 franchises globally and announced a major partnership with the Saudi Tourism Commission earlier this year. The Saudi Arabian company Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil exporters, recently formed sponsorship deals with the ICC and the BCCI.
While Saudi Arabia’s interest in cricket is relatively new, the country has hosted international cricket before. In 2005, a three-match ODI series was played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Riyadh, and in 2019, Saudi Arabia hosted its first cricket tournament, a T10 event in Al Amarat.
If the tournament goes ahead, Saudi Arabia could potentially become a hub for cricket and establish a new global cricketing center. However, cricket fans and experts have expressed concerns that players, particularly those approaching retirement, could abandon their international commitments to participate in high-paying T20 leagues. While cricket boards in England, India, and Australia are well-positioned to retain their best talent, the same cannot be said for other Test-playing nations.
New Zealand stars Trent Boult and Martin Guptill were released from their national contracts last year to focus on T20 franchise cricket. Boult played for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, while the Black Caps recently played a multi-format series against Sri Lanka on home soil.
The United Arab Emirates hosted its inaugural ILT20 tournament this year, luring Australian cricketers Chris Lynn, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa for cameo appearances. “A lot of these competitions are popping up now,” said Zampa in an interview earlier this year. “It’s important to stay connected with those franchises and those competitions. Obviously, the financial side of things comes into play a bit with those competitions. As a cricketer, your lifespan in the game isn’t too long, so you’ve got to try and make hay while you can.”
The ICC chairman Greg Barclay has confirmed Saudi Arabia’s interest in cricket. “If you look at other sports they’ve been involved in, cricket is something I imagine would be attractive to them,” he said. “Given their advance into sport more generally, cricket would work quite well for Saudi Arabia. They’re pretty keen to invest in sport, and given their regional presence, cricket would seem a pretty obvious one to pursue.”
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Fahd bin Abdulaziz had highlighted in August last year that sports and entertainment would play a crucial role in the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan. “The country’s esteemed leadership is truly invested in the impact sport can have in improving the lives of its people, and we are fully aligned to support the transformation,” he said. “The changes already implanted have already had a massive impact on people in our country.”
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