Saudi Arabia Are In Talks With BCCI To Create World’s Richest T20 Cricket League: Report

Saudi Arabia Are In Talks With BCCI To Create World’s Richest T20 Cricket League: Report According to rumors from the World of Cricket, Saudi Arabia is planning to start the World Richest Cricket League. Which may include Indian cricketers. According to sources, Saudi Arabia has been in contact with IPL owners over the matter after signing on as a sponsor for the IPL 2023 season.

IPL
Image Source- BCCI/IPL

As per ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, Saudi Arabia is planning to organize a Cricket league, drawing inspiration from the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to reports, preparation is still in its early stages. The league won’t start until it receives approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

After funding other sports like football and Formula 1, and creating richest leagues of these sports.  ICC Chairman Greg Barclay had revealed that Saudi Arabia was eager to invest extensively in cricket. The Gulf country likely second biggest investment in sports would be cricket. They are planning to construct the world’s biggest t20 league, similar to the IPL, which may outperform the IPL in terms of money.

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Following FIFA 2022, Saudi invested in and developed the world’s wealthiest football league by signing football GOATS such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The sum handed to Ronaldo and Messi has sparked outrage in the international media.

UAE Government In Talks With BCCI For League

According to The Age, talks about the Saudi Arabian league have been going on for over a year. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and its members, including Australia, would need to approve any potential Gulf league.

According to reports, Saudi cricket officials met with BCCI to discuss the league. which is a blatant sign that Saudi Arab needs BCCI’s assistance in setting up this league. According to the report, Saudi Arabia aspires to strengthen its ties with India through cricket.

Prior to that, the UAE established its own T20 competition, the ILT20, last year. With many IPL owners joining as investors. Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud, president of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, aspires to make Saudi Arabia a “destination for global cricket” in the future years.

Will Indian Players play the Saudi Arabia’s Cricket League

According to BCCI rules, Indian players are not permitted to participate in any cricket league outside the world. Outside of the national squad, Indian players can only play in the IPL and England’s county cricket. However, there are rumors that the Saudi Cricket Association has asked the BCCI to enable Indian cricketers to participate.

Apart from that, if Indian players took part in this league. This will be the first time Indian and Pakistani players will play together since the IPL’s early seasons. Pakistani cricketers are not permitted to participate in the IPL due to diplomatic restrictions.