New T20 League in Franchise Cricket
The Saudi Arabia T20 league, Dunes League, is set for October 2026 as the kingdom makes its most serious move into cricket yet
Saudi Arabia is entering franchise cricket. The kingdom has confirmed the launch of the Dunes League T20, its first major T20 tournament, scheduled to begin in October 2026. The Saudi Arabia T20 league has received approval from the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation. Moreover, it will feature a mix of retired international stars and players currently active in franchise cricket around the world.
This move fits a broader pattern. Saudi Arabia has aggressively expanded its global sports footprint in recent years. Football, boxing, tennis, and golf have all received massive Saudi investment as part of the kingdom’s economic diversification drive. Cricket, however, has been comparatively gradual. Therefore, the Dunes League marks a significant step change in that strategy.
The kingdom is not starting from scratch. Saudi Arabia has already partnered with the ICC through sponsorship agreements. It hosted the 2024 IPL auction and signed a long-term deal to stage the FairBreak Women’s T20 Challenge. Furthermore, it collaborated with the UAE-based International League T20. The Dunes League, therefore, builds on existing cricket infrastructure rather than starting cold.
The tournament will feature six teams and will be played in Taif, near Jeddah. Sports Asian Network, Unique Sports Group, and Prolithic are developing the league together. Unique Sports Group represents Jofra Archer, while Prolithic manages Abhishek Sharma. Additionally, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has been named as the league’s ambassador, adding instant star power to the project.
On player regulations, the league plans to allow up to four players from full-member cricket nations who have represented their countries within the last two years. That keeps the tournament within ICC regulatory limits. Meanwhile, top earners could pocket salaries of up to $100,000. Finally, Saudi officials have made the ambition clear — they want the Dunes League to put the kingdom firmly on the global cricket map.
