The prospect of a women’s T20 tournament in Saudi Arabia comes on the back of game-changing wider sporting investments made by the country in recent years.
Saudi Arabia have been members of the ICC since 2003 with its federation headed by Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud, who serves as its president and chairman.
The Gulf state has already made waves in cricket with strategic deals and major sponsorships, and Prince Saud said last year the aim was to “make cricket a major sport in Saudi Arabia”.
SACF signed a strategic agreement, external with the UAE-based International League T20 (ILT20) in September which will allow them to stage games in Saudi Arabia.
In May 2024 the ICC signed a global partnership with Aramco, the country’s state-funded oil company, until 2027 following an initial 18-month term.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) includes Aramco and Visit Saudi among its sponsors, and the 2025 auction was held in Jeddah.
This year it was reported, external the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) officials were planning to invest £390m in a ‘grand slam’ men’s T20 franchise league.
Construction has already begun on a stadium in the capital Riyadh with further grounds planned for Jeddah and Yanbu, and FairBreak is planning to provide female-only spaces and prayer rooms at venues.
FairBreak hopes the tournament will also “create new opportunities for Saudi women to participate in the sport”, while “strengthening pathways for local players, officials, and administrators to engage with the global game”.
They believe it will balance the lack of global tournaments for women compared with the men’s game.
“No other cricket tournament provides an opportunity for so many players to play together, and all the continents represented,” it added.
Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ plan has made sport a key element in diversifying the country’s economy beyond a reliance on oil.
Cricket’s governing body in Saudi Arabia said: “This milestone introduces the Kingdom’s first professional women’s cricket event, further advancing the sport’s development, empowering female participation, and expanding avenues of international collaboration in alignment with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.”
However, Saudi involvement in sport is not without considerable controversy.
Critics say it is being used to gain legitimacy and deflect attention from controversy over the country’s human rights record and its impact on the environment, a practice known as ‘sportswashing’.
Hosting a women’s cricket tournament held in Saudi Arabia, where same-sex sexual activity is illegal, will inevitably present a moral dilemma for some of the sport’s openly gay players.
During the league’s planning and development a consultation process took place in a bid to allay concerns over various issues, including the involvement of players in same-sex relationships.
Views were sought from former and current international cricketers along with those already involved in women’s sports in Saudi Arabia including Judy Murray, who is promoting tennis there.
Visit Saudi, the country’s official tourism promotion program, says all visitors are welcome, are not required to disclose their personal information and will have their right to privacy respected.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice states that while same-sex relations are illegal, “legal action is uncommon”.
