Saudi Arabia plans to launch Global T20 league

Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch an ambitious global Twenty20 (T20) cricket league, supported by its $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund. 

Led by Australian cricket figure Neil Maxwell, and backed by SRJ sports, the project is modeled after tennis’s Grand Slam events, with plans for a traveling eight-team league. The league is expected to host matches in four different locations. 

Maxwell, a former Australian cricketer and manager of Australian captain Pat Cummins, has spent the past year developing the concept. The league's goals are to address key challenges facing the sport, such as supporting Test cricket and generating new revenue opportunities for smaller cricketing nations. 

The league will feature teams based in established cricketing nations, including Australia, but will also look to expand into emerging markets. Both men’s and women’s competitions are planned, and the final may be held in Saudi Arabia.

Discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) are already in progress, with sources revealing that Saudi Arabia is prepared to invest $500 million in the venture. The new league is designed to complement existing T20 tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia's Big Bash League, filling gaps in the international cricket calendar.

However, the league faces several challenges. It still requires approval from the ICC and national cricket boards, such as Cricket Australia. Moreover, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would need to lift its ban on Indian players participating in T20 leagues outside the IPL.

If the league is approved, it could reshape cricket's financial structure by offering an alternative revenue model to the current system, which is dominated by India, Australia, and England. Smaller cricket nations stand to benefit from shared funds, potentially reducing their reliance on unprofitable bilateral series and creating more sustainable opportunities for growth.