Regional tournaments ‘key to growth of cricket in Saudi Arabia’

JEDDAH: The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation’s board of directors held its sixth meeting recently in Riyadh, under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Mishal, during which members discussed important topics including events and tournaments, the organization’s accomplishments, its financial and human resources policies, committee reports, investment opportunities, and key development areas.

The board said the federation has taken significant strides recently in its efforts to develop cricket, which has had an obvious effect on the sport not only in the Kingdom but globally, helping to put the country on the cricketing map and attract more Saudi fans and players.

According to the federation, one of its key initiatives has been the hosting of several regional cricket tournaments across the country, hard-ball and soft-ball games, which have been instrumental in attracting talented players from all parts of the Kingdom. The tournaments provide opportunities for local fans to watch games together, it said, and the matches were often well-attended by passionate fans who created a vibrant atmosphere.

The federation said it had identified the most promising players among those that participated in the tournaments and provided them with additional training and coaching. This has resulted in the development of a pool of talented cricketers, many of whom have gone on to represent Saudi Arabia at international competitions. The Saudi national cricket team’s victory this year at the inaugural ACC Men’s Challenger Cup in Bangkok is a testament to the effectiveness of the initiative, the board added.

The federation said it is also building relationships and partnerships with key international cricketing figures and organizations,