Overview
- Saudi officials are exploring a larger role in cricket, with early talks on a global T20 series that would run across multiple venues and sit alongside existing leagues, with no launch date or formal deals yet.
- The reassessment follows heavy spending on LIV Golf, where the PIF has invested more than £3.7 billion and the tour’s chief executive says profits are five to ten years away.
- Players on LIV expect PIF funding to stop after the 2026 season, according to business insiders cited by The Times.
- Saudi ties to cricket are already growing through an ILT20 partnership to stage future matches in the Kingdom and plans to host the Women’s World T20 Challenge this year.
- Major hurdles face any new T20 series, including a packed calendar, resistance from India’s and England’s boards, and BCCI rules that bar IPL-contracted players from other leagues.