RIYAL-ITY
Representative Image: ILT20 is three seasons old. © ILT20
In what could be a game-changing moment, Saudi Arabia has finally taken a serious plunge into cricket. After months of speculation about the Saudi Riyal’s potential to disrupt cricket the way it has other sports, the oil-rich nation has moved from talk to action, joining forces with its neighbour, the UAE, through a collaboration with the ILT20.
The league has struck a strategic alliance with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF), paving the way for the ILT20 matches to be staged in the Saudi Kingdom. Significantly, the partnership goes beyond the men’s matches, with plans also in place to hold women’s games, something not normally seen on the Saudi soil.
Through this partnership ILT20 will work with the SACF and its commercial arm, the Cricket Investment Company (CIC), on developing the game in Saudi Arabia besides developing talent. The association kicks in from the upcoming season, which starts on December 2.
A statement from the UAE league 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.”
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© Cricbuzz
