Saudi Arabia’s proposed Global T20 League has faced its first hurdle after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) dismissed plans for the new league citing an already overloaded international calendar and concerns over player workload.
According to reports, the proposed league would be financed by the sports arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and feature eight teams competing across four venues. However, ECB chief executive Richard Gould was unequivocal in his response opposing the Global T20 League.
“With the busy international calendar, a host of established franchise leagues around the world, and existing concerns about player workloads, there is no scope or demand for such an idea,” Gould told the press. “It’s not something that we would support.”
The ECB is focused on protecting its own ventures, particularly its 100-ball format league, The Hundred, which recently raised $1.27 billion through the sale of franchise stakes. While the Indian Premier League continues to be the gold standard in franchise cricket, established leagues in Australia, Pakistan, the West Indies, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates further illustrate the competitive landscape.
In contrast, the Australian Cricketers Association has expressed support for the proposed league. “The ACA’s early interest in exploring this concept is motivated by a desire to develop and normalize best-practice collective bargaining and an international gender-equity pay model for male and female cricketers,” the association stated.