BCCI Denies Reports of Player Availability Relaxation for Saudi Arabia League: Cricket is the latest sport that Saudi Arabia is planning to venture into after hosting Formula One races, controlling Newcastle United, signing Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the domestic league, and marketing the competing LIV golf course. According to Australian media reports, the Gulf nation has already held discussions with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding a league that the Saudi Arabian government is purportedly organising. However, the BCCI has quashed reports of relaxation of its policy over player availability for foreign leagues, stating that there is no question of releasing Indian players.
Here’s what we know so far: BCCI Denies Reports of Player Availability Relaxation for Saudi Arabia League
- No Indian players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or any other current generation cricketer, has played in any international leagues.
- The Indian board and Indian Premier League franchises were allegedly involved in discussions with the Saudi Arabian government for a league being organized by them.
- Six out of ten IPL team owners were reportedly unaware of the offer from the oil-rich Gulf country, according to Cricbuzz.
BCCI Denies Reports of Player Availability Relaxation for Saudi Arabia League
- The BCCI has a policy of not releasing Indian players for foreign leagues, and they will stick to it.
- The Saudi government and businesses have recently engaged with international sports and athletes on a large scale, but critics claim this is an attempt to ‘sportswash’ human rights abuse and environmental difficulties.
- It is noteworthy that the Saudi corporation Aramco’s relationship with the International Cricket Council (ICC) has faced criticism from a few cricket boards, but the ICC has persisted with the Saudi corporation.
BCCI Denies Reports of Player Availability Relaxation for Saudi Arabia League
The news of the alleged biggest T20 league in the world being played in Saudi Arabia without Indian players has caused a stir in the cricket world. While the Saudi Arabian government may have held discussions with IPL franchises, the BCCI has made it clear that their policy over player availability for foreign leagues will not change.
BCCI Denies Reports of Player Availability Relaxation for Saudi Arabia League
The upcoming Saudi Arabia T20 league likely to be the richest tournament in the world. (Cricbuzz)#SRHvsKKR #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/tfcmB2VeKP
— Dr. Cric Point (@drcricpoint) April 14, 2023
Player Availability Relaxation for Saudi Arabia League: Indian players will not play in the Saudi Arabia league, as reported by the media. The BCCI has refused to release any Indian player for the league, sticking to its policy. While the Saudi Arabian government may have discussed the league with the IPL franchises, it remains unclear whether any agreement has been reached.
Read more : Saudi Arabia Plans to Set up the World’s Richest T20 League: All You Need to Know
