Saudi Arabia to launch six-team Dunes League T20 in October 2026

Saudi Arabia will host a new six-team T20 league starting October 2026 in Taif, featuring top international and domestic talent.

Saudi Arabia's sporting rise Over the past five years, Saudi Arabia has transformed itself into a major force in global sports, using its oil wealth to host high-profile events across football, tennis, and boxing. The country’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, even launched the LIV Golf tour but confirmed it will halt funding at the end of the current season. Speculation has swirled for three years about Saudi Arabia entering cricket with a rival T20 league to challenge the IPL, including discussions last year about a 'Grand Slam-style' series of T20 competitions proposed by the Australian Cricketers’ Association. ## Gradual cricket integration Saudi Arabia has taken measured steps into cricket rather than an abrupt entry. The nation secured sponsorship deals with the ICC and hosted the IPL auction in 2024. The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation also collaborated with the UAE’s ILT20 last year and agreed to a long-term deal to stage the FairBreak Women’s T20 Challenge, though the inaugural edition has been postponed due to regional conflicts. ## Dunes League details revealed The six-team Dunes T20 League is scheduled to begin in October 2026, with matches set to take place in Taif, located near Jeddah. Development of the league involved partnerships with the Sports Asian Network and two talent agencies: Unique Sports Group, which represents players like Jofra Archer, and Prolithic, whose roster includes Abhishek Sharma. Yuvraj Singh from Prolithic will serve as the league’s ambassador. ## League’s purpose and rules The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation first outlined provisional plans for the league in late 2025, stating it aims to place Saudi Arabia prominently on the global cricket stage and nurture homegrown talent. Each team will be permitted to include up to four players who have featured in international cricket for a full member nation within the last two years, ensuring compliance with ICC regulations. The highest player salaries could reach $100,000.