Saudi Arabia drove a wedge through golf with LIV tour – now oil barons could BURY Test cricket
First it was golf after investing heavily in the controversial LIV tour – and now the Saudi Arabian government is reportedly in talks with owners of the Indian Premier League over a move that could change cricket forever.
Representatives of the silver-plated Gulf State is reportedly targeting T20 cricket as its next global sports project.
As it looks now – under rules set by the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian players – such as superstar Virat Kohli – are not allowed to participate in overseas T20 competitions.
However, a proposal from representatives of the Saudi government could lead to that rule being abolished.
According to a report in The age, talks behind the plan began more than a year ago, with each proposed league having to be approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and approved by member states.
First it was golf after investing in the LIV tour – and now the Saudi government has reportedly held talks with owners of the Indian Premier League over a move that could change cricket forever (pictured, Aussie star David Warner)
As it stands – under rules set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian players – such as superstar Virat Kohli (pictured) – are not allowed to compete in overseas T20 competitions, but that could soon change
Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in cricket was confirmed by ICC President Greg Barclay.
“If you look at other sports they’ve competed in, cricket is something I think would appeal to them,” he said.
“Given their progress in the sport in general, cricket would work quite well for Saudi Arabia.
“They’re quite keen to invest in sport, and given their regional presence, cricket seems like an obvious choice.”
The development comes as several of Australia’s top cricketers, including Test captain Pat Cummins and star batsman Steve Smith, may soon be required to seek permission from their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams before they can play for their countries.
Proposed sweeping changes to the structure of the IPL and how players are signed would mark the most profound change in the sport since the launch of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket in 1977.
Neil Maxwell, one of Australia’s most influential players’ agents, said players in the next phase of the IPL revolution would request certificates of no objection from their clubs.
“It’s right around the corner and it’s happening,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins may have to seek permission from his IPL franchise to lead his country in the future (pictured, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022)
The future of Test cricket is threatened by the IPL’s plans for expansion and global franchises (pictured Australian cricketers on their recent tour of India)
‘The best Australian players who are consistently the best in the world over a number of years earn about $2.3 million from Australian cricket and play 12 months a year to achieve that. The math doesn’t work.’
After the World Cups in India and the US this year and next, 2025 looms as the year Australian players face deals to represent Indian brands in multiple competitions – which would go against Cricket Australia’s traditional contract system.
Offers are already on the table for some Australian whiteball players.
Typically, these are deals for three tournaments worth at least $750,000 for the leagues of the UAE or South Africa, plus the Caribbean Premier League and the fledgling Major League Cricket tournament in the United States.
Much larger financial bundles – as much as $7.5 million – would be on the table for players already tied to IPL franchises.
The franchise model will also shake up the Sheffield Shield, with promising young players being offered deals from Indian brands that the Australian state system simply cannot match.
Former Australian player Shane Watson, who joined the inaugural IPL in 2008, is still involved with the Delhi Capitals along with Ricky Ponting and is also president of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the union representing local players.
Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson works in the IPL and said the crossroads between global limited overs cricket and Test cricket is fast approaching
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley believes having more Aussies in the IPL is a good reflection of Australia’s development trajectories
He sees the crossing point quickly approaching.
“It’s really accelerated around the big IPL owners who are just buying franchises in different leagues and then looking for a pool of players to draw from to fill their teams, and looking at an overarching contract,” Watson said.
‘The ultimate is of course Test cricket and international cricket, but unfortunately, as you see how Test cricket is now, the priority for Test cricket seems to be in only three countries: India, Australia and England.
“But you can see that for other countries it’s not a priority for their young and incredibly talented cricketers to come through. The priority is to develop their game in short form to play for franchises around the world.”
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley is adamant he is not threatened by the new model and says Cricket Australia will continue to make concessions to allow as many players as possible to participate in the IPL.