The Indian Premier League (IPL), renowned as the richest cricket league globally, recently saw its first ever mega mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for the 2025 edition Amid this development, rumors have surfaced about Saudi Arabia planning to launch a cricket league that could rival the IPL in grandeur and wealth.
However, Prince Saud bin Mishaal Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF), has firmly dismissed these claims. Speaking on the sidelines of the IPL auction, Prince Saud clarified that the country has no intention of initiating a cricket league of such magnitude. He described the circulating reports as “incorrect” while reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening ties with the IPL.
Prince Saud bin Mishaal Al Saud hails IPL collaboration, dismisses league rumors
“Our focus is not on creating a new league but on collaborating with established tournaments like the IPL to promote cricket in Saudi Arabia,” said Prince Saud. He further expressed enthusiasm about potentially hosting IPL games in the Kingdom in the future. Discussions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Saudi Government are reportedly on the horizon to explore this possibility.
The Prince highlighted the intention behind hosting the IPL auction in Jeddah, calling it a pivotal moment for cricket development in Saudi Arabia. “The auction is a major first step. It would not have been possible without the support of the Saudi Government and Mr. Jay Shah (BCCI secretary),” he added.
As Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to establish itself as a global sports hub, the Kingdom seems intent on integrating cricket into its broader vision rather than competing directly with the world’s biggest cricket league, the IPL.