Saudi Arabia drove a wedge through golf with LIV tour – now oil barons could BURY Test cricket

First it was golf after heavily investing in the controversial LIV tour – and now the Saudi Arabian government has reportedly held talks with Indian Premier League owners in a move which could change cricket forever.

Representatives from the cashed up gulf state are said to be targeting T20 cricket as its next global sporting project.

As it stands – under rules set out by the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian players – such as superstar Virat Kohli – are banned from participating in overseas T20 competitions.

However, a proposal from Saudi Arabian government representatives could result in that rule being abolished.

According to a report in The Age, talks behind the plan began over a year ago, with any proposed league required to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as well as being approved by member countries.

First it was golf after investing in the LIV tour – and now the Saudi Arabian government has reportedly held talks with Indian Premier League owners in a move which could change cricket forever (pictured, Aussie star David Warner)

As it stands – under rules set out by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Indian players – such as superstar Virat Kohli (pictured) – are banned from participating in overseas T20 competitions, but that could soon change

Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in cricket was confirmed by ICC chairman Greg Barclay.

‘If you look at other sports they have been involved in, cricket is something I imagine would be attractive to them,’ he said.

‘Given their advance into sport more generally, cricket would work quite well for Saudi Arabia.

‘They are pretty keen to invest in sport, and given their regional presence, cricket would seem a pretty obvious one to pursue.’

The development comes as several of Australia’s top cricketers, including Test captain Pat Cummins and star batsman Steve Smith, may soon have to seek permission from their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams before they can play for their country.

Proposed sweeping changes to the structure of the IPL and how players are contracted would be the most profound change to the sport since the launch of Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket in 1977.

Neil Maxwell, one of Australia’s most influential player agents, said that the next phase of the IPL revolution would have players asking for non-objection certificates from their clubs.

‘It’s imminent and it’s happening,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins may have to ask permission from his IPL franchise to lead his country in the future (pictured, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022)

The future of Test cricket has come under threat from the IPL’s plans for expansion and global franchises (pictured, Australian cricketers on their recent tour of India)

‘The best Australian players who consistently rank as the best in the world for a number of years will earn about $2.3million from Australian cricket, playing 12 months of the year to achieve that. The maths don’t work.’

Following World Cups in India and the USA this year and next, 2025 looms as the year when Australian players will be confronted by deals to represent Indian brands in multiple leagues – which would be at odds with the traditional Cricket Australia contract system.

Offers are already on the table for some Australian white-ball players.

Typically, these involve three-tournament deals worth at least $750,000 for the UAE or South Africa leagues, plus the Caribbean Premier League and the fledgling Major League Cricket tournament in the United States.

Far bigger financial bundles – as much as $7.5million – would be on the table for players already tied to IPL franchises.

The franchise model is also set to rock the Sheffield Shield, with promising young players offered deals by Indian brands that the Australian state system simply can’t match.

Former Australian player Shane Watson, who joined the inaugural IPL in 2008, is still involved alongside Ricky Ponting at the Delhi Capitals and is also president of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the union representing local players.

Former Australian cricket player Shane Watson works in the IPL and said the crossover point between global limited overs cricket and Test cricket is rapidly approaching

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley believes having more Aussies in the IPL reflects well on the development pathways in Australia

He can see the crossover point approaching rapidly.

‘It’s really sped up around the big IPL owners just buying franchises in different leagues and then looking to have a pool of players that they can draw on to fill their teams, and look to have an overarching contract,’ Watson said.

‘Of course the ultimate is Test cricket and international cricket, but sadly the way you see how Test cricket is right now, the priority for Test cricket only really looks like being in three countries – India, Australia and England.

‘But you can see for other countries, it is not a priority for their young and incredibly talented cricketers coming through. The priority is to develop their short-format game to play around the world for franchises.’

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley is adamant he is not threatened by the new model, saying Cricket Australia will continue to make concessions to allow as many players as possible to compete in the IPL.