{"id":8167,"date":"2026-05-14T22:18:53","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T22:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsmakers.com.pk\/en\/?p=8167"},"modified":"2026-05-14T22:18:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T22:18:57","slug":"saudi-arab-to-launch-first-ever-t20-franchise-league-in-oct-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsmakers.com.pk\/en\/sports\/saudi-arab-to-launch-first-ever-t20-franchise-league-in-oct-2025\/8167\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arab to Launch First-Ever T20 Franchise League in Oct 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Web Desk<\/strong>
May 14, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While football has long been the dominant sport in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom is now making a major foray into cricket. The first-ever Saudi franchise T20 league is set to launch later this year, marking a significant step in the country’s sporting diversification under MBS Vision 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dunes League T20: What We Know So Far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Dunes League T20 has been officially sanctioned by the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation (SACF) and is scheduled to launch in October 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Detail<\/th>Information<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Tournament Name<\/strong><\/td>Dunes League T20<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Teams<\/strong><\/td>6<\/td><\/tr>
Venue<\/strong><\/td>Taif, near Jeddah<\/td><\/tr>
Expected Start<\/strong><\/td>October 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Player Salary Cap<\/strong><\/td>Up to USD 100,000<\/td><\/tr>
Ambassador<\/strong><\/td>Yuvraj Singh<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The six-team league has been developed in partnership with the Sports Asian Network and two talent agencies: Unique Sports Group (which manages England fast bowler Jofra Archer) and Prolithic (which manages India’s Abhishek Sharma). Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh will serve as the league’s ambassador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Player Eligibility and Salary Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The league is expected to feature a mix of recently retired international cricketers who remain active on the global franchise circuit. According to ESPNcricinfo, teams will be allowed a maximum of four players who have represented Full Member nations in the last two years \u2014 a structure designed to remain within ICC regulatory thresholds without requiring special approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top players could earn salaries of up to USD 100,000 for the tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi Arabia’s Growing Cricket Ambitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The kingdom has been steadily increasing its presence in the cricket world over the past five years. As part of its Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from oil, Saudi Arabia has hosted several major cricket events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n