JAKARTA – Saudi Arabia is preparing to host a high-profile women’s T20 cricket tournament in 2026, with plans to recruit top international players from cricket powerhouses including England, Australia, and India.

Tournament Details and Structure

The Women’s World T20 Challenge will feature six teams competing over a two-week period, likely scheduled for September or October. The timing positions it between England’s The Hundred competition and Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the tournament, which will be managed by FairBreak Global under the authority of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF). FairBreak, established in 2013, is a private organization dedicated to advancing gender equality in sports.

The event will include 19 matches featuring a round-robin format followed by two semifinals and a final. Each of the six squads will consist of 15 players.

Player Compensation Structure

Organizers are developing a multi-tier salary system with three or four wage categories. Top-tier players are expected to receive compensation comparable to what they earn in The Hundred and WBBL, adjusted proportionally for the shorter tournament duration.

For context, leading players in The Hundred earned £65,000 in 2025, with salaries increasing to approximately £100,000 in 2026. WBBL’s top earners received £54,000 this year. These figures remain below India’s Women’s Premier League, where England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt earned £320,000 last year.

Lower and mid-tier salary brackets will range from £3,800 to £15,000, representing substantial income for players from Associate cricket nations who often don’t earn professional wages from the sport.

Global Participation Expected

The tournament aims to showcase more than 35 nations, with approximately equal representation from full member countries and Associate nations. Following FairBreak’s principles, a selection panel will assign players to teams rather than conducting an auction.

FairBreak previously organized T20 invitational events in Dubai and Hong Kong in 2022 and 2023, attracting prominent English players such as Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone, alongside cricketers from Brazil, Nepal, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, and Germany.

Five-Year Commitment and Infrastructure Development

The agreement establishes the tournament in Saudi Arabia for five years, with plans to secure a permanent position in the international cricket calendar.

Construction is underway on a stadium in Riyadh, with additional facilities planned for Jeddah and Yanbu. FairBreak intends to provide female-only spaces and prayer rooms at venues to accommodate various cultural and religious needs.

Saudi Arabia’s Growing Cricket Investment

Saudi Arabia has been an ICC member since 2003, with the federation led by Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud. The prince stated last year that the objective is to establish cricket as a major sport in the Kingdom.

Recent cricket-related investments include a strategic partnership with the UAE-based International League T20 in September, allowing Saudi Arabia to host matches. The ICC signed a global partnership with Saudi state-funded oil company Aramco through 2027, while the Indian Premier League counts both Aramco and Visit Saudi among its sponsors.

Reports earlier this year indicated that Saudi Public Investment Fund officials were planning a £390 million investment in a men’s T20 franchise league.

Alignment with Vision 2030

The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation described the tournament as a milestone that “introduces the Kingdom’s first professional women’s cricket event” while advancing female participation and international collaboration in line with Saudi Vision 2030, the country’s economic diversification plan beyond oil dependence.

FairBreak emphasized that the tournament represents a meaningful development for women’s cricket globally and will help balance the disparity in international tournaments between men’s and women’s cricket.

Ethical Considerations for Players

The tournament presents potential challenges for some players, as same-sex sexual activity remains illegal in Saudi Arabia. This may create difficult decisions for openly LGBTQ+ cricketers considering participation.

During the tournament’s planning phase, organizers conducted consultations to address concerns, including those related to players in same-sex relationships. They sought perspectives from former and current international cricketers and individuals already involved in women’s sports in Saudi Arabia, including tennis promoter Judy Murray.

Visit Saudi states that all visitors are welcome and will have their privacy rights respected without being required to disclose personal information. UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance notes that while same-sex relations are illegal, legal enforcement is uncommon.

English players wishing to participate would need to obtain a No Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board, though this is not expected to pose significant obstacles given fewer competing T20 tournaments in women’s cricket.

Critics have raised concerns about “sportswashing,” arguing that Saudi Arabia’s sports investments aim to enhance legitimacy and divert attention from controversies surrounding its human rights record and environmental impact.

Original Article:

BBC Sports. (2025, December 1). Saudi Arabia wants top women players in T20 league. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/crm3jpgkeezo