Saudi Arabia to host first professional T20 cricket competition

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will stage its first professional T20 cricket competition featuring stars of the international game in October this year.

The six-team Dunes T20 League will run from the second week of October, and represents a significant step in the development of cricket in the Kingdom.

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, with legends of the game expected to be involved.

As preparations gather pace before the October 2026 launch, the Dunes T20 League will introduce 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 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.

With former India star Singh joining as league ambassador, the Dunes T20 League will benefit from his experience at the highest level of international cricket and his global fan following.

“Really looking forward to joining the Dunes T20 League as league ambassador at such an exciting time for cricket in Saudi Arabia,” Singh said. “This league has the vision and ambition to grow the game in a new market, create opportunities for local emerging players, and