The reports came earlier, and plans are underway from a few investors for a new cricket league featuring eight franchise teams, inspired by the format of tennis Grand Slams. Saudi Arabia’s SRJ Sports Investments, part of the nation’s large sovereign wealth fund, is expected to be the main investor, with a willingness to invest up to $500 million. This league will host matches at four venues around the world throughout the year. Both men’s and women’s tournaments are part of the plan, with discussions about hosting the final in Saudi Arabia. But, there may be some problems, since the England Cricket Board (ECB) has already opposed this idea of the new league and BCCI and Cricket Australia could go with the same decision.
Who introduced this league?
The idea comes from Neil Maxwell, a former first-class cricketer and current manager of Australian captain Pat Cummins. Maxwell aims to create new revenue sources to support the sustainability of Test cricket, especially for countries outside India, Australia, and England. The league will introduce new teams based in well-known cricketing nations and target emerging markets.
Scheduling challenges
Organising the league is complex, especially with the current packed international cricket schedule. The league, in development for over a year, aims to fit into free periods in the cricket calendar to prevent clashes with international matches and other T20 events. However, finding suitable times for matches remains a major challenge.
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Support from boards and future
Obtaining approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is crucial, as they currently don’t allow Indian players to join overseas T20 leagues. The participation of Indian players could be a critical factor for the league’s success, with ICC chair Jay Shah possibly playing a big role in negotiations.
On the other hand, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has already expressed disapproval. ECB CEO Richard Gould said, “With the busy international calendar, a host of established franchise leagues around the world, and existing concerns about player workloads, there is no scope or demand for such an idea.” The ECB is focused on protecting their own league, the Hundred, while the BCCI and Cricket Australia may also aim to safeguard their T20 leagues.
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