Islamabad, Mar 16 2025: Saudi Arabia is set to revolutionize international cricket with the launch of a global T20 Cricket league, backed by its $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund.
The ambitious project, led by Australian cricket figure Neil Maxwell, aims to introduce a traveling eight-team league, inspired by the Grand Slam format in tennis.
Financed by SRJ Sports Investments, the league will feature matches in four different locations throughout the year.
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Saudi authorities are already in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC), with reports suggesting that the kingdom is prepared to invest $500 million to bring this vision to life.
Neil Maxwell, a former Australian cricketer and manager of Pat Cummins, has been working on the project for over a year. The league is designed to protect Test cricket while creating new financial opportunities for smaller cricketing nations.
The proposed structure includes franchises from established cricket nations, such as Australia, alongside teams from emerging markets.
Unlike traditional domestic T20 tournaments, in this global T20 Cricket league aims to fill scheduling gaps in the international calendar, complementing events like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).
While the project promises significant financial backing for smaller cricketing nations, several regulatory challenges remain. The league requires ICC approval, as well as support from major cricket boards, including Cricket Australia and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Notably, the BCCI currently prohibits Indian players from competing in non-IPL leagues, a policy that may need revision for Saudi Arabia’s vision to materialize.
If successfully launched, the Saudi-backed global T20 Cricket league could reshape the global cricket economy, introducing a new revenue model beyond the dominance of India, Australia, and England.
Smaller nations, often struggling financially, could benefit from shared resources, potentially reducing their dependence on low-profit bilateral series.
As Saudi Arabia expands its footprint in global sports, this initiative signals a major shift in the future of cricket.
