EXCLUSIVE Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are in advanced talks about financing a second IPL to take place every autumn…which could deal a major blow to international cricket
- The new competition could adopt a T10 format to distinguish it from the IPL
- BCCI have considered launching a second franchise competition for many years
- It is a worry for ICC, who have hosted their last three major events in the autumn
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund are in advanced talks about funding a second IPL to take place every autumn which would represent a major threat to international cricket.
BCCI officials are understood to have held several rounds of meetings with PIF representatives during last month’s World Cup in India about launching a new competition, which could adopt the T10 format to distinguish it from the IPL.
Indian website Money Control revealed details of the proposed new tournament yesterday and Mail Sport has since established the Saudi involvement.
Earlier this year there were reports in Australia that PIF wanted to launch their own T20 league as a standalone competition comparable to LIV Golf, but talks with the BCCI have convinced both parties to work together.
The BCCI have been considering launching a second franchise competition for several years due to the success of the IPL, whose broadcast value makes it the second most lucrative sports league in the world after the NFL.
Yasir Al-Rumayyan (right) is the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund
The new competition could be a major threat to the ICC, with this year’s World Cup and the last two T20 World Cups having taken place in the autumn
The IPL’s broadcast value makes it the second most lucrative sports league in the world
The prospect of Saudi investment appears to have accelerated their plans significantly, with Money Control claiming that the inaugural competition could begin next September.
With the IPL already set to expand from its current schedule of 74 matches to 94 by 2027 the proposed new competition will initially be billed as a development tournament, but given money involved that it would still attract a significant number of international players and put pressure on the global schedule. The ICC are likely to be particular concerned, as their last three major events including this year’s World Cup and the last two T20 World Cups have taken place in the autumn.
While the final format has yet to be agreed Money Control reported that the BCCI are considering a number of innovations to distinguish the new competition from the IPL. One major change being discussed is to adopt the T10 format, while the BCCI could also introduce quotas for under 23 players to help develop the next generation of Indian stars.
Some overseas players are likely to be permitted, and a number of matches could be taken to countries outside India in a move that would appeal to the Saudi government.
LIV Golf continued their disruption of golf’s establishment with the lucrative signing of Jon Rahm this month
Under the terms of the IPL constitution the existing 10 franchises have the right to take part in any new competition is launch, and there will be no shortage of takers from other Indian cities if any of them decline.
The creation of a second major short-form competition in India would have major ramifications for the bilateral international series and particularly 50 over cricket, which was already under threat.
The BCCI’s plans to expand at home could also have ramifications for the ECB, who had been hoping that IPL franchises would buy into the Hundred and provide the cash injection required to attract the best players in the world.
The BCCI and PIF declined to comment.
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