ILT20 CEO David White has said that having Saudi Arabian players in the league for the first time will help develop cricket in the region, with an eye to playing matches in the Gulf in the future.
The third edition of the ILT20 kicked off last week in Dubai, with Desert Vipers registering a four-wicket win over reigning champions Dubai Capitals in the opening game. Ahead of the start of the tournament, the league partnered with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, furthering its commitment to expanding cricket in the wider Gulf region. Six players each from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have been included in the squads for this year’s tournament.
“We see it as a natural extension,” White told Wisden.com. “We’ve got Saudi and Kuwait players going through the auction process, and we’ve created a partnership where we are going to help them develop infrastructure and programmes. This year we’ve also got seven African players to come and play as net bowlers for the teams.
“We see our role to help Associate Cricket, and my personal view is that in the future we will be playing matches in the greater Gulf region. I think that’s a couple of years away but we are in discussion both with Kuwait and Saudi cricket about assisting them with the development of infrastructure and grounds.”
The Saudi Arabian government has stepped up its investment in international sport over the last decade, with cricket the latest of its initiatives. In March this year, it was reported that the sports investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund (SURJ Sports) was set to invest $500 million into a new international T20 league. In September, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SAFC) launched the World Cricket Festival, which combined international cricket with concerts and entertainment events.
“There’s a lot of passion,” said White of cricket’s current position in the Saudi sports landscape. “But it’s in its fundamental stage. I’d like to think we will play a big part in helping set up their infrastructure and development programs so that cricket can prosper in those regions. Of course economically the gulf region is incredibly wealthy and in the future I think it will support cricket.”
The ILT20 has been the driving force behind the development of the UAE national side, who have secured qualification for next year’s T20 World Cup. The Saudi and Kuwaiti players set to be involved in the tournament this year mark the first steps in the beginning of a similar process.
“They [Saudi and Kuwait players] will learn, and train with really good coaches,” said White. “Rubbing shoulders with international class players, but their selection in each game will be dependent on coaches. Will they play? I’m not sure. But they will certainly get a real experience, and if you look at the UAE players – it is mandatory that you play two in each team – they have really developed over the last three or four years.”
“No other league can offer this”
The ILT20 sees itself as somewhat of a crusader for Associate Cricket. It found itself facing criticism last year after Graeme Smith, commissioner for the SA20, hit out at the number of overseas players padding out the local players in the league. “I do feel like a league like that is not good for the game,” said Smith. “That there's that many international players required to build a team; there's no investment back into local cricket. That is a challenge for the world game and something that needs to be managed going forward."
While it’s obvious the ILT20 relies on international players more than any other of the major global franchise leagues, with the vast majority of squads made up of overseas players, criticism of that model is something White, and the league as a whole, has fought hard to refute.
“We’ve got players from other associate countries who are playing in the league,” said White. “In every game there has to be one associate player who plays outside of the UAE as well. No other league can offer that.
“Saudi Arabia are neighbours of the UAE and we are part of the same region so it’s a natural thing to do to work within this region and help each other. I don’t know why there is any criticism of UAE helping them develop cricket. It’s a positive thing and it’s something world cricket should be proud of what UAE are doing in developing associate cricket.”
The profile of the names local and other Associate Players are rubbing shoulders with in the nets and on the field is also huge. English players are a particular target for franchises, with the lure of a winter on a sunny Dubai golf course hard to resist for those not involved with England. This year has also seen Indian players feature in the league for the first time, with Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla and former India U19 captain Unmukt Chand all contracted.
Keeping their overseas player availability high in the most crowded few months of the year for franchise cricket has proved tricky, with the current edition being played in a new window to avoid a significant clash with the SA20. Competition with the Big Bash has proven impossible to avoid, with the schedule cramped by a T20 World Cup early next year.
“Look at the English players, it’s perfect for them to play in our league,” says White. “In years gone by they would have been playing club cricket in South Africa or Australia, but now they can play in this league, play very good cricket making good money. It [the schedule] is a question for ICC and international boards to work through. I think there is a way, it’s just something they need to work through.”
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