BCCI and ECB Set to Stump Saudi Arabia’s Global Cricket League Push

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious push to create a global T20 cricket league has encountered significant opposition from two of the sport’s most influential stakeholders: the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). Both boards are reportedly working behind the scenes to block the proposed Saudi-backed competition, which would be funded by SRJ Sports Investments and feature eight privately owned franchises playing across four annual tournaments worldwide.

During the recent World Test Championship final at Lord’s, BCCI and ECB executives agreed to withhold No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for any of their contracted players, effectively preventing them from participating in the Saudi league. They are also pressuring the International Cricket Council (ICC) not to sanction the event, without which the league would struggle to secure top players, broadcasting deals and official recognition.

The BCCI’s resistance stems from a longstanding policy of limiting Indian players to the IPL, a league it dominates both commercially and politically. With the IPL valued at over $12 billion, India has little incentive to back a rival competition that could dilute its global dominance. The ECB’s motivations are similar, especially after securing over £500 million through partial sales of its Hundred League. Both boards are now focused on protecting their commercial ecosystems and retaining control over the global T20 calendar.

The ICC is in a delicate position. It has a major sponsorship agreement with Saudi Aramco. It includes several member boards, such as Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa, which are more open to external investment. However, the recent appointment of BCCI’s Jay Shah as ICC Chair has further tilted the balance of influence in India’s favour, making an ICC endorsement for the Saudi league unlikely in the short term.

Not all boards share the concerns of the BCCI and ECB. Cricket Australia has signalled interest in cooperating with Saudi Arabia to attract funding to bolster the Big Bash League. South Africa’s SA20 league has already benefited from foreign investment, with several franchises owned by investors of IPL teams.

Despite the $400 million investment earmarked for the new league, the lack of cooperation from the sport’s major power brokers poses a serious challenge. Without star players, official backing, or calendar space, the Saudi league’s launch faces steep odds. For now, cricket’s traditional powers appear united in defending the status quo, keeping control of the game’s most lucrative format firmly within their grasp.