Saudi Arabia's getting its first T20 cricket league
A true sixer
If you, like this author, were practically raised on cricket, you’ll be delighted to see the first T20 cricket league soon. Get ready to meet the first-ever Dunes T20 League.
Expected to take place around the second week of October, the six-team Dunes T20 League is set to feature stars of the international game and represents a significant step in the development of cricket in the Kingdom, according to Arab News.
View this post on Instagram
The tournament will provide opportunities for emerging and established local players and deliver a world-class sporting and entertainment product to global audiences, with legends of the game expected to be involved.
The Dunes T20 League is set to become a historic chapter in Saudi Arabia’s sporting journey, bringing together global cricketing icons, emerging regional talent, and world-class infrastructure to establish the Kingdom as an exciting new destination on the international cricket map.
The tournament aims to accelerate the growth of the sport in the region, provide opportunities for emerging and established local players, and deliver a world-class sporting and entertainment product to global audiences.
The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation awarded the rights to South Asian Network Limited in October 2025 to establish and operate the Kingdom’s first professional T20 cricket tournament. SAN Ltd. will run the event in partnership with Unique Sports Group and Prolithic Talent Agency, the sports management and investment company mentored by cricket legend Yuvraj Singh. The major cricketer has also joined as league ambassador.
Per BBC, franchise regulars such as Alex Hales, Jason Roy, James Vince and Moeen Ali are understood to be among the English players that will be sounded out about taking part.
For the uninitiated, the T20 format is one of the most competitive ones in the sport. It’s a fast-paced, shortened version of the game where each team plays a single innings restricted to a maximum of 20 overs (120 deliveries). Designed to finish in under three hours, it is one of the three ICC-recognised formats and features in major international tournaments and premier professional leagues globally. So we’re gearing up for some major, competitive cricketing out here in the Kingdom, and we couldn’t be any more excited.
Visit: @cricketsaudi
Images: Cricket Saudi Instagram
