IPL Chairman Dhumal Reports No Formal Saudi Cricket Investment Proposals

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has firmly denied reports of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) being in talks for direct investment in the IPL or the creation of a Saudi-backed global T20 'Grand Slam' circuit, stating that all such claims are merely media speculation without any formal proposals. Dhumal acknowledged Saudi Arabia's growing interest in cricket, as shown by sponsorships from state-backed entities like Aramco, Visit Saudi, and Neom, as well as the recent staging of the IPL mega auction in Jeddah. He explained that this strategic move aimed to showcase the IPL's scale and commercial power to Saudi stakeholders and to encourage investment in cricket infrastructure, given the region's substantial South Asian diaspora. While the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) plans to build an international-standard stadium in Jeddah and aspires to make cricket more relevant locally, its infrastructure remains limited. Dhumal compared Saudi ambitions to the UAE’s successful transformation into a cricket hub, emphasizing that any future Saudi engagement should align with the broader goal of growing cricket globally. He reiterated that neither the BCCI nor the IPL has received any official proposals from Saudi Arabia, and any speculation about direct investment or a Grand Slam T20 league is unfounded at this time.