Hyderabad: The Saudi Arabian government has been planning to bring into being the world's richest cricket league and has been holding discussions with the Indian Premier League (IPL) owners and administrators, an Australian media outlet report claimed.
The Gulf state is in touch with officials, administrators, coaches and players of the IPL and discussions regarding the same have been underway for over a year now. However, nobody has formally claimed it yet given the private nature of the talks.
The fact that the BCCI doesn't allow its players to play in the overseas league cricket may have to alter its rules for the first time and cricket fans may see their favourite cricketers play league matches outside India. The league will need to be authorized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the assent of the member countries would be required for it to commence.
The country's administrators have been heavily investing in sports as they formed their own Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix, purchased Newcastle United in the English Premier Leauge and bagged Cristiano Ronaldo for the Al Nassr club, and cricket seems to be their next stop.
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ICC chair Greg Barclay has backed and said that Saudi Arabia is keen on investing in cricket. "If you look at other sports they’ve been involved in, cricket is something I imagine would be attractive to them. 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," he said.
The report also claimed that Saudi Arabia plans to strengthen its partnership with India and become its biggest tourist destination in the next decade. "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 told a media outlet.
Paksistan is also looking to be involved with the league and the country's legendary bowler Wasim Akram visited the kingdom in February. "What a trip to Riyadh. Had a great meeting with [Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud], talked about cricket in Saudi Arabia, and so looking forward to a Saudi league insha Allah very soon," he said in a Facebook post.
