Saudi Arabia are eyeing a stake in the $30 billion Indian Premier League, aim to invest $5 billion

The Public Investment Fund has expressed their aim to invest in the IPL, but BCCI will make their decision after the 2024 General Elections.

Saudi Arabia are eyeing a stake in the $30 billion Indian Premier League, aim to invest $5 billion

Mohammed bin Salman has been advised to invest in the IPL (Images via ESPN and Britannica)

On 3rd November, Bloomberg reported that the  Saudi Arabia government wants to invest in the Indian Premier League. It has been reported that the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman has been advised to invest in the cricket tournament. 

Talks began in September of 2022, when Mohammed bin Salman traveled to India. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has said they could invest $5 billion dollars in the IPL, which will increase the valuation of the IPL to $30 Billion. 

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Although Saudi Arabia is ready to invest that much, the call will be taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. They will most probably make the decision after the 2024 General Elections. There have been no official statements by both the BCCI and the Public Investment Fund run by the Saudi Arabian government. 

Saudi Arabia’s ties with Cricket 

Saudi Arabia has already made their name in the sports of football, WWE, boxing, golf, and various Motorsport. It hosts some of the best players in the world of football to participate in the Saudi Pro League. The PIF also has full control over English club, Newcastle United. They also host various WWE, boxing and motorsport events in the country. 

Saudi Arabian Cricket Team
Saudi Arabian Cricket Team (Image via Arab News)

Saudi Arabia has already started making investments in the Indian Premier League. In 2022, Aramco, the largest oil company sponsored the Orange Cap and The Purple cap awarded to the highest runs scorer and wicket taker. The very next year, Visit Saudi had replaced Unacademy as an official partner. 

Saudi Arabia does have its own cricket culture, with over 149 clubs spread across 11 districts. The nation got ICC membership in 2001 and became an associate nation in 2016. They have not yet participated in any ICC events but are regularly in Asian Cricket Council tournaments. They played their first T20I match in 2019 and since then played 30 matches, winning 13. Saudi Arabia just recently won the ACC Challengers Cup, beating Bahrain in the finals. 

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