Yes! The significant involvement of global investors who invest heavily in the renowned league, with a focus on the Middle East region, Notably, the owners of renowned clubs such as Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Sheffield United are from the UAE and Saudi Arabian.
With the advent of the global league gaming concept over the past few decades, a number of sports have witnessed a remarkable transformation. The illustrious English Premier League (EPL) has been one of the most prominent examples. Now, when it comes to this premier competition, many sports enthusiasts will consider something. In addition to being an important investor in Formula One, Saudi Arabia has recently become a major investor in other sports, such as golf. The most current illustration is the LIV golf tournament. As a result, the Saudi Arabian government desires to invest significantly in cricket’s potential in the region.
Similarly, in an exciting new development, the Saudi Arabian government is attempting to establish a cricket league in the Gulf region that is comparable to the coveted Indian Premier League (IPL) with the assistance of the BCCI. According to The Age, Arabian representatives have been in discussions with the Indian board for over a year to establish the “world’s richest cricket league.”
However, the BCCI does not currently permit Indian players to participate in other foreign competitions. With Saudi Arabia’s immense interest, the board may consider allowing its players to participate abroad as well. Intriguingly, the league must receive sanction from the ICC (International Cricket Council) and several premier cricketing nations, such as Australia, in order to become a reality. Nevertheless, the ICC chairman, Greg Barclay, had previously indicated that the Saudi Arabian government was interested in cricket.
“If you consider the other sports they’ve participated in, I believe cricket would appeal to them,” he said. “Given Saudi Arabia’s general advancement in the sport, cricket would work quite well for the country. “They’re eager to invest in sports, and given their regional prominence, cricket seems like an obvious choice,” Barclay said.
The Saudi Arabian government has future intentions to host the opening rounds of the IPL and Asia Cup.
In addition, the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation discussed their interest in this global sport. According to Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia aspires to become a global hub for cricket, which will increase the sustainability of expatriates and locals residing in the Arabian Kingdom.
Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud told Arab News, “Our goal is to create a sustainable industry for locals and expats living in the Kingdom and make Saudi Arabia a global cricketing destination.”
Moreover, Saudi government and business representatives have reportedly explored the possibility of hosting the inaugural match or even the initial rounds of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the kingdom. Moreover, the Arabian government is eager to host the annual Asia Cup in the future if circumstances are favorable.
India
