Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered Indian Premier League team owners the opportunity to set up the “world’s richest T20 league” in the country.
As per Australian publication The Age, the talks have been going on over the subject for about a year.
A number of representatives of the Saudi government and businesses have been spotted around India’s cricketing activities, looking to get the IPL owners and the BCCI itself into their planned Twenty20 league which would stand neck-to-neck with the IPL in terms of financial prowess, The Age further reported.
Not too long ago, International Cricket Council chairman Greg Barclay had confirmed Saudi Arabian 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,” Barclay added.
“Our aim is to create a sustainable industry for locals and expats living in the Kingdom and make Saudi Arabia a global cricketing destination,” Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud had told Arab News last month.
The possibilities of staging the annual Asia Cup, the opening match, or even a round of the IPL in Saudi Arabia are also reportedly in the plans.
The Saudis may be able to show the money, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has a lock that bars Indian players from participating in leagues abroad. Till such time as that changes, the IPL will remain unchallenged.
