Saudi Arabia plans massive 6,000 crore taka cricket league to compete with IPL

In a bold move that could reshape the global cricket landscape, Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch a massive T20 cricket league worth nearly BDT 6,000 crore, designed to rival India’s highly popular Indian Premier League (IPL). 

According to a report from Australia’s The Age, the new league will operate under a structure similar to tennis’s Grand Slam tournaments, with eight teams competing at four different venues.

This new cricket initiative is backed by SRJ Sports Investments, a company that is part of Saudi Arabia’s vast $1 trillion fund. 

The country is aiming to strengthen the financial foundation of cricket, focusing on creating new revenue streams outside of traditional cricketing powerhouses like India, Australia, and England.

Behind the project is Neil Maxwell, a former Australian cricketer and player manager, who is working hard to position the league as a serious competitor to the IPL, Big Bash, and other established T20 leagues.

Saudi Arabia has been making waves in the sports world, with major investments in football, golf, Formula One, and boxing. 

Recently, the country gained attention in the cricket world by hosting the 2025 IPL auction in Jeddah. 

In addition, Saudi Arabia has already committed $500 million to cricket development and plans to invest another $800 million into the new league.

However, launching the league won’t be simple. 

The project will need approval from cricket’s governing bodies, including the International Cricket Council (ICC), Cricket Australia (CA), and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). 

These approvals could present significant challenges, especially as the BCCI will need to agree to allow Indian players to participate.

If this "Grand Slam T20 League" comes to life, it could bring a new era to world cricket, offering smaller cricket-playing nations fresh opportunities. 

This league is also part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country’s economy through investments in sports and other sectors.

While the start date for the league remains unclear, it is expected that securing the necessary approvals from the ICC, CA, and BCCI will be one of the toughest challenges. 

The final decision will rest with ICC Chairman Jay Shah, making this one of the most anticipated developments in the cricket world.