Saudi Arabia is reportedly making significant strides toward launching a new global T20 cricket league which could revolutionize the sport. According to a report from The Age the ambitious project is modeled on tennis Grand Slams and will feature eight teams competing in four different locations around the world. This proposed league could bring massive changes to cricket, but it is still awaiting approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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The new T20 league backed by Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments a sports division of the country’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund aims to expand cricket’s reach and provide a new source of revenue.The league is designed to address some of cricket’s key challenges including the financial sustainability of Test cricket beyond major countries like India, Australia, and England.

Neil Maxwell's Vision and Saudi Arabia's Growing Influence

The idea for this groundbreaking league was conceived by Neil Maxwell a former Australian cricketer and player manager. Maxwell who has worked closely with the Australian Cricketers’ Association is spearheading the effort to create a global T20 league that would rival existing competitions.

Saudi Arabia has been investing in various sports like football, golf, Formula One, and boxing. Now the country is showing a massive interest in cricket as well. It recently hosted the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah highlighting its growing involvement in the sport. Saudi Arabia has also set aside $500 million for cricket development.

(approximately $800 million) ready to be invested in the league through SRJ Sports Investments, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a significant player in the cricketing world.

The planned T20 league will consist of eight new franchises with some teams based in traditional cricket-loving countries like Australia, and others possibly emerging from new markets. Both men’s and women’s competitions are being proposed with the league culminating in a final match in Saudi Arabia.

The league will follow a format similar to tennis Grand Slams with the matches held in different countries throughout the year. This unique approach could appeal to a global audience and offer a new alternative to T20 leagues like the IPL.

While discussions with the ICC are ongoing the league’s approval will require the backing of major cricketing boards, including Cricket Australia. If this approved by ICC the league could change the cricketing world by giving players and teams more chances to compete and earn while bringing the sport to new regions.

Saudi Arabia's big investment in cricket shows its increasing influence in global sports. As the country expands its sports ventures this new T20 league could be a step step in their cricket’s growth.