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New Delhi: After venturing into football, golf and several other sports, Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments, which is backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is planning to launch an ambitious T20 league in cricket. However, the Saudi T20 league, valued at around $400 million (Rs 34,000 crore approximately), is reportedly unlikely to receive the backing of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

BCCI and ECB, the two giants of world cricket, are set to unite in opposing the Saudi T20 league to safeguard their respective flagship T20 tournaments. While BCCI organises the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is arguably the biggest and best T20 league in the world, The Hundred is ECB’s marquee franchise league, which is played in a 100-ball format.

As per a report in The Guardian, the ECB and the BCCI held discussions on the sidelines of the World Test Championship (WTC) at Lord’s in London earlier this month, where the two boards agreed to unite in opposing the Saudi T20 league to protect their respective tournaments. The two boards have decided not to issue ‘No Objection Certificates’ NOCs to players for the new competition.

As per the report, the two boards are also set to lobby the International Cricket Council (ICC) to back their decision. The Jay Shah-led ICC is unlikely to go against the wishes of the Indian cricket board in the matter.

Australia keen on partnering with Saudi investors

While BCCI and ECB are set to oppose the formation of the new Saudi T20 league, Cricket Australia (CA) might partner with the Saudi investors in helping them launch the tournament. As per The Guardian, CA is keen on partnering with Saudi investors as they aim to earn a big profit from the cash flow that the new league will generate.

The Big Bash League (BBL) is Cricket Australia’s marquee T20 property, however, the franchises are owned by the government and the states. Thus, Cricket Australia is interested in exploring a new venture with Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments, which will help them in maximising profits.

As per the report, SRJ Sports Investments has pledged to invest a whopping $400 million to set up the new Saudi T20 league. The tournament is likely to have eight teams playing four tournaments across different locations around the world, each year, similar to Grand Slam tournaments in tennis.

However, it remains to be seen if the league will bel launches successfully and will it be able to draw top talents from the premier cricketing nations, which might not want to go against the BCCI and the ICC.