ILT20 matches will now be held in the Kingdom thanks to a strategic partnership between the league and the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF). Notably, the collaboration goes beyond men’s cricket; in a first for Saudi Arabia, plans are also in the works to host women’s matches.
Saudi Arabia has made a bold move into the cricket industry. Following months of conjecture regarding the Saudi Riyal’s ability to upend the sport, as it has done in football and other areas, the Kingdom has taken action by partnering with the International League T20 and its neighbour, the United Arab Emirates.
In order to support the development of the sport in Saudi Arabia and develop local talent, International League T20 will collaborate closely with the SACF and its commercial arm, the Cricket Investment Company (CIC).
With the start of the next ILT20 season on December 2, the collaboration will formally commence.
As a legitimate T20 league for both men and women, SACF has approved and granted the DP World International League T20 a licence to play in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the next seasons. According to a statement from the UAE league, which Cricbuzz cited, “The milestone serves as another important step in ILT20’s efforts to expand and enrich cricket across the Gulf region.”
Players from Saudi Arabia will also have a direct route into the ILT20, which is another fascinating development. Notably, each club will need to acquire at least one player from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, which is set for Wednesday, October 1. Saudi Arabia will host World ILT20 matches in the upcoming years as well,” it continued.
The Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation’s (SACF) chairman, Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, stated:
“We take pride in our collaboration with the ILT20. Our dedication to advancing cricket in the nation and giving our players the chance to advance and thrive internationally is demonstrated by this partnership. Additionally, it offers a venue for fan interaction within the Kingdom and creates new opportunities for the game’s development in the areas of infrastructure and tourism,”
“As part of SACF’s strategy to enable the private sector within Saudi Arabia, we believe this partnership will inspire more young men and women to take up cricket and will play a vital role in the sport’s growth in the country, especially since sport and community engagement are strongly emphasised in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” he continued.
ILT20 Chairman Khaild Al Zarooni stated:
We are thrilled to share the news of our collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation. The dedication of Saudi Arabia, a significant player in the Gulf, to the advancement of cricket is admirable. Our shared goal of expanding the game internationally is the foundation of this collaboration. ILT20 will give players opportunities and, ideally, bring top-tier cricket closer to the general public.
ILT20 CEO David White stated:
“This is a big step towards our goal of expanding the game throughout the Gulf. We have personally witnessed how the DP World ILT20 platform has helped young players from the UAE and the wider ecosystem by providing them with top-notch coaching and the opportunity to play with international stars. This collaboration offers Saudi cricket players a fantastic potential to advance given the country’s explosive growth in sports and entertainment, according to David White, CEO of ILT20.
“We will host DP World ILT20 tournament matches in Saudi Arabia in the upcoming years. Starting next year, a development tournament will also be held there, giving local talent a chance to compete for the main event,” he continued.
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