Grand slam of cricket: Secret plan hatched for new Saudi-backed T20 league

[Tillu]

A global Twenty20 league bankrolled by Saudi Arabia has been devised by an influential Australian cricket figure in what could be one of the most significant developments in the game in decades.

The proposed eight-team league is modelled on tennis and its grand slams, with teams to assemble and play matches in four different locations during the year.

The league’s main financier would be Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments, the sports arm of the oil-rich Gulf state’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, and discussions about it are under way with the game’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council.

The concept has been secretly in the works for a year and is the brainchild of Australian Neil Maxwell, the former NSW and Victoria all-rounder who manages Australian captain Pat Cummins and is a former board member of the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket NSW.

It has been developed in partnership with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, which represents current and former players, as a new revenue stream to tackle critical issues, such as trying to preserve Test cricket as a sustainable format beyond the big three of India, Australia and England.

According to sources with knowledge of the plans, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of talks, a consortium of investors is ready to get behind the as yet unnamed global league. Saudi Arabia would be the largest backer, with the kingdom prepared to inject $US500 million ($800 million) into the cricket start-up, sources say.

An entry by Saudi Arabia into cricket would add to a fast-growing sporting portfolio that includes LIV Golf, a Formula 1 race and hosting rights to the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup.

SRJ Sports Investments is headed by Danny Townsend, the ex-Australian Professional Leagues soccer chief executive, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund is also now a part owner one of Australian cricket’s television broadcasters after last month taking a minority stake in streaming business DAZN, which bought Foxtel from News Corp.

Maxwell and Townsend declined to comment when contacted, but according to sources not authorised to speak publicly, the league would be played in vacant windows in the calendar between international cricket and existing nation-based T20 competitions such as the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash League.

The teams would be new franchises, based in cricket-playing nations– including one in Australia – and new markets, and there would be men’s and women’s competitions. The final could be staged in Saudi Arabia.

While players would be well compensated, the global league has been drawn up aspirationally as a way to establish an alternative revenue source beyond cricket’s established funding model. Under that system, member nations receive income from broadcasters and ICC distributions, but it is weighted heavily in favour of the game’s superpower India and to a lesser extent Australia and England, leaving small countries struggling for financial viability.

Sources say the travelling league would complement, not take away from, domestic T20 tournaments and was meant as an avenue for world cricket to address growing issues about its future.

Smaller nations would share in the funds raised and it is hoped they would be encouraged to embrace the idea and play less unprofitable cricket.

The Saudi-sponsored league would need the approval of member bodies such as Cricket Australia and the ICC, and the ultimate decision maker will be Jay Shah, the youthful Indian chair of the world governing body who was until recently secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

It could be a feather in Shah’s cap if the proposed league was approved and emerged as a solution to cricket’s most pressing problems and the 36-year-old could also be key to opening the door to Indian cricketers to take part. The BCCI would need to be convinced to relax a ban on Indian stars playing in T20 franchise leagues other than the IPL.

The Saudi involvement would inevitably draw controversy because of the regime’s deplorable human rights record.

It has poured billions of petrodollars into sport during the past five years, splitting golf down the middle by luring some of the best players in the world to the LIV circuit with astronomical pay cheques and making waves in soccer by purchasing 80 per cent of English Premier League soccer club Newcastle United and attracting superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to a cashed-up Saudi Pro League.

There have also been huge outlays to stage the biggest heavyweight boxing fights in the capital Riyadh, as well as large investments in other combat sports and e-sports, and the country has been considering a bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

The government of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been accused of using its deep pockets to engage in “sportswashing” in an effort to improve a reputation diminished by rights abuses.

There was worldwide condemnation following the 2018 murder of high-profile journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Turkey, while rights groups have called out the exploitation of migrant workers in the kingdom since it was awarded the men’s soccer World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has defended its spending on sport as central to bin Salman’s Vision 2030 strategy to transform the country’s economy and referenced liberal reforms since he became the effective ruler of the absolute monarchy in 2017.

 

An associate member of the ICC, it has already struck up close ties with cricket, hosting the mega auction for the 2025 IPL in Jeddah last November.

Saudi Arabia has minimal cricket infrastructure but is in the midst of a staggering construction program that includes state-of-the-art new stadiums and futuristic cities.

 

Smh. Com. Au

 

[Tillu]

We should expect more such deals from the Anglo nations and Pawkies out of desperation to eliminate the outsized influence BCCI have on cricket.

 

In their desperation all the PakiTurds want the Saudis to throw around huge sums of money to the cricketers not knowing the repercussions.

 

Incase if such a thing happens BCCI will leave the ICC and there will be no more yearly ICC events, no more bilateral series which actually keep these thankless boards from going extinct in the first place.

 

India can then just play year long IPL using our homegrown talent until these pathetic boards come begging again.

[nevada]

The BCCI should create their own grand slam by conducting the IPL four times a year - in India, the UAE, the US and South Africa. 

[New guy]

Nah, this is india trying to increase influence and get more money into the sports. Saudi is an ally, this is part of the changing global power dynamics with US, Saudis and india coming closer. 

 

If Pakistani fans are dreaming this will decrease India's influence or give power to them, they are delusional. 

[cowboysfan]

Saudis have already tried this in other sports like Golf,football etc to varying degrees of success,one thing is for sure is that if this league actually takes place then the players will be paid a lot more than what IPL teams are paying the cricketers.

[AKane]

2 hours ago, cowboysfan said:

Saudis have already tried this in other sports like Golf,football etc to varying degrees of success,one thing is for sure is that if this league actually takes place then the players will be paid a lot more than what IPL teams are paying the cricketers.

Saudis sure have money - lots of it. Kudos to them and their God.

[Ultimate_Game]

10 minutes ago, AKane said:

Saudis sure have money - lots of it. Kudos to them and their God.

 

Lucked into Oil so kudos to luck I guess

[tapandrun]

.

 

Edited March 15 by tapandrun

[R!TTER]

4 hours ago, cowboysfan said:

Saudis have already tried this in other sports like Golf,football etc to varying degrees of success,one thing is for sure is that if this league actually takes place then the players will be paid a lot more than what IPL teams are paying the cricketers.

Then there's the matter of actually making a profit, which is impossible without India/BCCI's major involvement. Saudis may have a trillion dollar sovereign wealth fund, which isn't a big deal given there's at least 3(4?) more nations with bigger assets, but we have nearly 1.5 billion people!

 

5 hours ago, New guy said:

If Pakistani fans are dreaming this will decrease India's influence or give power to them, they are delusional. 

Saudis are in it for themselves, don't kid yourself they'll ally with India on this! It'll be a repeat of Hindi chini bhai bhai 

Edited March 15 by R!TTER

[Gollum]

They are trying tp push for a 5th Grand Slam in tennis as well. Had an exho called 6 Kings Slam last year with crazy prize money, double of that of slams. Most top tennis players including Nadal have sold their souls to them. 

 

Even in chess, they have signed a big deal with Carlsen, for some esports related event. 

 

Don't understand their plan since their locals have no sports culture apart from football. 

[Vilander]

Saudis want everything set before the dark crude oil runs out.

[jf1gp_1]

No cricket league can beat IPL without Indian players. So all rubbish till bcci is backing this league.

[deathmonger]

Kuch nahi hoga.

 

And people fail to realize how rich Indian billionaires are. India has the 3rd most billionaires in the world and India is only getting richer.

 

IPL can expand even more.

[nevada]

14 hours ago, Gollum said:

They are trying tp push for a 5th Grand Slam in tennis as well. Had an exho called 6 Kings Slam last year with crazy prize money, double of that of slams. Most top tennis players including Nadal have sold their souls to them. 

 

Even in chess, they have signed a big deal with Carlsen, for some esports related event. 

 

Don't understand their plan since their locals have no sports culture apart from football. 

Wasn't there some year end trophy with crazy prize money(for that time) back in the 90s also? Sampras won a million dollars prize money as a teenager back then, causing quite a sensation. Indian Wells used to be called the fifth slam, with best of five format. Even Rome used to be five sets IIRC and was quite a prestigious tournament. 

[neel roy]

LIV Golf flopped badly

 

https://motorcyclesports.net/liv-golfs-billion-dollar-flop-how-mcilroy-spieth-and-ratings-reveal-a-failed-challenge-to-pga-tour-dominance/#:~:text=LIV Golf's Billion-Dollar Flop,Challenge to PGA Tour Dominance&text=LIV Golf%2C the ambitious venture,facing a harsh reality check.

 

Its only a fad. What India got from Saudi was the big sponsorship from Aramco. No such league in cricket without support of BCCI and Saudi s know that. There is no gaps in international calender between BBL and IPL unless there is 1000 days in a year and we are circling Proxima Centauri and not Sun. Saudi soccer even after pumping billion dollars still sees audience less than size of road cricket. Except for Ronaldo who is milking his last bit of age there is nothing. Many PL footballers have earned their bucks and want to come back.. do you think BCCI will let Abhishek Sharma Tilak Varmas of the world to ply trade in Riyadh in that temperature before a SENA series or an ICC event which happens every year..fools gold..

[Ultimate_Game]

On 3/15/2025 at 1:53 PM, Gollum said:

They are trying tp push for a 5th Grand Slam in tennis as well. Had an exho called 6 Kings Slam last year with crazy prize money, double of that of slams. Most top tennis players including Nadal have sold their souls to them. 

 

Even in chess, they have signed a big deal with Carlsen, for some esports related event. 

 

Don't understand their plan since their locals have no sports culture apart from football. 

 

 

It's called "sports washing". Essentially it's a way to gain soft power or enhance their reputation via sports by becoming a sporting hub. Either you become so good at sports that others take you seriously or you throw so much money that you become central to sports.

 

This is why so many middle east folks have stake in EPL and want to host literally every major sporting event. That's exactly why they hosted FIFA World Cup and would do their best to host Olympics.

[cowboysfan]

3 hours ago, neel roy said:

LIV Golf flopped badly

 

https://motorcyclesports.net/liv-golfs-billion-dollar-flop-how-mcilroy-spieth-and-ratings-reveal-a-failed-challenge-to-pga-tour-dominance/#:~:text=LIV Golf's Billion-Dollar Flop,Challenge to PGA Tour Dominance&text=LIV Golf%2C the ambitious venture,facing a harsh reality check.

 

Its only a fad. What India got from Saudi was the big sponsorship from Aramco. No such league in cricket without support of BCCI and Saudi s know that. There is no gaps in international calender between BBL and IPL unless there is 1000 days in a year and we are circling Proxima Centauri and not Sun. Saudi soccer even after pumping billion dollars still sees audience less than size of road cricket. Except for Ronaldo who is milking his last bit of age there is nothing. Many PL footballers have earned their bucks and want to come back.. do you think BCCI will let Abhishek Sharma Tilak Varmas of the world to ply trade in Riyadh in that temperature before a SENA series or an ICC event which happens every year..fools gold..

It doesnt matter if its flops or not for the Saudis,they already are broadcasting the tournaments in the US.they have bottomless wealth and their aim is to frustrate the PGA-take away all their good players with ridiculous salaries and hope the PGA bends the knee to the Saudi's money and that could happen.

[Suhaan]

dole dependent padosis are celebrating like their dad is investing money

[Ultimate_Game]

14 minutes ago, Suhaan said:

dole dependent padosis are celebrating like their dad is investing money

 

They don't know that even this new league isn't gonna pick Pak players 

[Tillu]

If a Saudi-backed global Twenty20 League is ever going to take off, Cricket Australia’s new chief executive Todd Greenberg and chair Mike Baird will have to be its salesmen to India and the rest of the cricket world.

The league would be owned primarily by the International Cricket Council and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, with a smaller stake for the players. Four annual tournaments would be played over a week each in iconic locations around the world, followed by a final at year’s end.

The eight city-based teams would be chosen for their cultural cachet: Sydney versus New York or London versus Mumbai. Riyadh would also be among the teams. After the tournament was up and running, those teams would be put up for sale to private investors.

When this masthead broke the story of the global league and its Saudi footprint on Saturday, Greenberg and Baird were unwilling to comment.

 

But Greenberg has been aware of the scheme since its germination in the second half of 2023 when he was chief executive of the Australian Cricketers Association. After resigning from Cricket New South Wales, Pat Cummins’ manager Neil Maxwell took the idea to Greenberg, and also chair Heath Mills and CEO Tom Moffat at the World Cricketers Association.

In turn, Greenberg and the ACA green-lit the hiring of Sydney-based Mothership Sport as a consulting firm to look into the concept and help draft a more detailed proposal. This move was motivated by a desire to ensure that Saudi involvement in cricket is productive, not disruptive.

The choice of Mothership was deliberate. One of its partners, Ant Hearne, already had a relationship with Danny Townsend, the former soccer executive who is now in charge of Saudi Arabia’s sporting investment arm. Hearne and Townsend worked together for Australian Professional Leagues.

Townsend, a visible presence at last week’s SportNxt conference in Melbourne, reputedly has access to more than $US10 billion in funds to use across the sporting landscape. Saudi Arabia already has commercial links into India, given it is a commercial partner of the BCCI via Aramco, and hosted the most recent Indian Premier League auction.

Recent changes in broadcast ownership in Australia have brought Saudi Arabia into even sharper view. Foxtel has been bought by the sports streaming giant DAZN, which in turn has sold a stake to Townsend’s SURJ Investments. Effectively, SURJ now have a significant interest in the company that bankrolls more major Australian sports than any other entity.

The ACA, chaired by Greg Dyer, has confirmed it was behind the global league idea.

“Part of the ACA’s mandate is to pursue initiatives that benefit our members, male and female, and ensure their connection to a healthy game – embracing new opportunities whilst seeking to preserve the games’ traditions,” the player’s union said.

“The ACA’s early interest in exploring this concept is motivated by a desire to develop and normalise best-practice collective bargaining and an international gender-equity pay model for male and female cricketers. And to develop a competition creating value for distribution to cricket’s governing bodies to protect and subsidise Test cricket and the continuing growth of the women’s game for all nations.”

Those mentions of gender equity stand out – squeamishness remains about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, including in some corners of Australian cricket administration.

 

The cricketing calendar poses another issue for the proposed tournament. Given how crammed the calendar is, the global T20 league would be unlikely to take place unless room can be found for it by reducing other kinds of cricket being played.

Mothership Sport’s website states that it is “focused on growing sport and sports-related businesses”, warning that, “events and competitions must be constructed to deliver meaning and jeopardy. Many will need to change, some may not survive.”

The World Cricketers Association is soon to unveil a report that looks at the structure and calendar of cricket across the world. Its panel included AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh, former ECB chief executive Tom Harrison and JioStar sports chief executive Sanjog Gupta.

Bilateral 50-over cricket has come under the spotlight recently as a format that has run out of steam, particularly after the ICC’s member nations abandoned a World Cup qualification league after only one cycle, between 2019 and 2023.

But there remains strong interest in ODI matches in South Asia in particular, as evidenced by massive audiences for India’s recent Champions Trophy tournament victory. A victory by India over Pakistan during the qualifying rounds was watched by 200 million TV viewers and 150 million streaming viewers in India alone. Killing ODI cricket, then, would not be so simple.

 

Baird and Greenberg will travel for their first International Cricket Council meetings together next month. That summit is also set to feature discussions about the future of Test cricket, including a concept for splitting the red-ball game into two divisions.

There is no suggestion the T20 league is yet on the ICC agenda. But if it is ever to get there, Baird’s relationship with the new ICC chair Jay Shah, still the most powerful figure in Indian cricket, will be as vital as any.

For one thing, India does not recognise players’ associations. Should the BCCI approve the idea, they will do so because it was presented to them by Cricket Australia, not the players. Other nations such as England will also have queries, like wishing to preserve the dollars the ECB just raised by selling the Hundred competition.

As such, bringing the Saudi proposal to life will be a measure of Baird and Greenberg’s international credibility.

 

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/why-baird-and-greenberg-will-make-or-break-saudi-t20-league-20250317-p5lk3k.html