BCCI, ECB Unite To 'Thwart' Saudi T20 League, ICC Endorsement Unlikely: Report
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The BCCI and ECB will not support the new USD 400 million Saudi T20 league to protect their tournaments and will lobby the ICC to withhold endorsement.
The ambitious Saudi T20 league, believed to be a USD 400 million project, will not receive support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), as they aim to protect their flagship tournaments, according to a report by The Guardian.
'During discussions at the World Test Championship final at Lord's this month, the ECB and BCCI agreed to unite in opposing the new league. The boards agreed they would not issue 'no objection certificates" to their players to sign up for the new competition, as well as lobbying the International Cricket Council (ICC) to withhold their endorsement," the newspaper wrote.
Cricket Australia (CA) was reportedly interested in partnering with Saudi investors in the league.
'Under plans that emerged in Australia this year, Saudi's SRJ Sports Investments has pledged to inject USD 400m to set up the new league, which would have eight teams playing four tournaments in different locations each year in a set-up that has been compared to tennis's Grand Slams," Guardian wrote.
For CA, the primary goal is to profit from the private investor's cash inflow, as the Big Bash League (BBL) franchises are owned by the governing body and the states.
However, the IPL is a USD 12 billion product, and the ECB is set to gain GBP 520 million (USD 700 million) from selling 49% of the eight 'Hundred' franchises.
'Cricket South Africa raised more than GBP 100m (USD 136 million) by selling franchises in its SA20 competition to Indian Premier League owners three years ago," the report added.
The paper also reported that the ICC, currently led by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, is unlikely to act against the wishes of the Indian board.
The ICC had earlier announced, on 9 May, 2024, a four-year extension to its global partnership with Aramco, officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company.
'Following a successful initial 18-month term, Aramco will continue as a Premier Partner of the ICC and the partnership will include all men's and women's senior and U19s events scheduled until the end of 2027," ICC had stated in a press release.
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