Given the tremendous popularity of the Indian Premier League (IPL), many new T20 leagues have started worldwide. However, it is not easy for any league to combat the dominance of IPL. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has decided to start a new and large T20 league, with a huge investment of 500 million US dollars (about Rs 4,150 crore).
The league is planned to be built on the lines of the Grand Slam of Tennis, where matches will be held at four different places and the final match will be played in Saudi Arabia.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now protested against the scheme, which can make this project in trouble.
Who is investing in this league?
Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments are investing in this T20 league.
The company is a subsidiary of the country’s 1 trillion public investment fund (PIF).
Behind the concept of this league is Neel Maxwell’s brain, who has been a former first class cricketer and is currently the manager of Australian captain Pat Cummins.
Maxwell has also held big positions in the Australian Cricketers Association and Cricket New South Wales Board.
The aim of this league is that the earnings from this will be given to those countries which are backward in Test cricket.
The biggest challenge of players became the biggest challenge!
The biggest problem for this league is the busy schedule of players.
The BCCI does not allow its Indian players to play in any foreign T20 league, causing Indian players to be involved in it.
Due to the presence of busy schedule of ICC and many other franchise leagues, it would be extremely difficult for this league to find the right time.
The England Cricket Board (ECB) has withdrawn its support from this league.
ECB CEO Richard Gold said that the English Cricket Board will not support this league.
He says that there is no need for this new league, given the busy schedule of international cricket and current leagues.
Richard Gold said:
“The busy international calendar, given the charge of franchise leagues and players around the world, we will not support it.”
The ECB is currently engaged in saving its ‘The Hundred’ League, which has recently sold their franchise stake to private investors.
BCCI and Cricket Australia (CA) would also want to protect their T20 Leagues (IPL and BBL).
