Saudi Arabia has made a big move in cricket. After months of talk, the Kingdom has taken action by joining forces with the UAE’s International League T20 (ILT20).
The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) has signed a partnership with ILT20. This deal allows ILT20 matches to be played in Saudi Arabia. It will also include women’s matches, a first for the country.
A new pathway in Cricket for Saudi Arabia players
ILT20 will work with SACF and its commercial arm, the Cricket Investment Company (CIC). The aim is to grow cricket in Saudi Arabia and help local talent. The partnership will begin with the new ILT20 season starting on December 2.
In a statement, ILT20 said, “…SACF has sanctioned and licensed the DP World ILT20 as an official T20 league (men and women) to host matches within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the forthcoming seasons. The milestone serves as another important step in ILT20’s efforts to expand and enrich cricket across the Gulf region.”
The ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction will be held on October 1. Each franchise must now pick at least one Saudi Arabian player. In the future, ILT20 matches will also take place in Saudi Arabia.
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Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, Chairman of SACF, said, “We are proud to partner with the ILT20. This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing cricket in the country and providing our players with opportunities to grow and succeed on an international stage. It also provides a platform for fan engagement within the Kingdom and opens up further avenues for developing the game across infrastructure and tourism,” said
“With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 placing strong emphasis on sport and community engagement, 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 as part of SACF’s strategy to enable the private sector within Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Khalid Al Zarooni, Chairman ILT20, said, “We are very proud to announce our partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation. Saudi Arabia is a key part of the Gulf region, and its commitment to developing cricket is inspiring. This partnership is built on our shared vision of growing the game beyond borders. ILT20 will create opportunities for players and hopefully bring world-class cricket closer to the fans.”
David White, CEO ILT20, said:
“This is a significant step in our vision to grow the game across the Gulf region. We have seen first-hand how young players from the UAE, and the broader ecosystem, have benefited from the DP World ILT20 platform under world-class coaching and playing alongside international stars. With Saudi Arabia’s dynamic growth in sport and entertainment, this partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for Saudi cricketers to develop.”
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“In the coming years we will be hosting DP World ILT20 tournament matches in Saudi Arabia while from next year, a development tournament will also be staged there which will provide opportunity to the local talent to make a claim for the main event,” he added.
