Saudi Arabia Plans $500 Million Global T20 Cricket League
Proposed eight-team league modeled on tennis Grand Slams aims to reshape cricket with international tournaments across four locations annually.
- Saudi Arabia's SRJ Sports Investments is reportedly backing the league with $500 million in funding, aiming to attract top global cricket talent.
- The proposed league, developed by Australian cricket figure Neil Maxwell, envisions four tournaments annually in different countries, including Saudi Arabia and Australia.
- Discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) are ongoing, with the league requiring ICC approval to proceed.
- The league seeks to address financial disparities in cricket by providing revenue to smaller nations and supporting the sustainability of Test cricket beyond dominant nations like India, England, and Australia.
- Key challenges include securing exemptions for player participation under ICC rules and navigating scheduling conflicts in an already packed global cricket calendar.