Key Points
- The Women’s World T20 Challenge will feature international players from over 35 countries.
- The league supports Saudi Vision 2030 by promoting women’s sports development and global collaboration.
- With a five-year commitment, the tournament strengthens Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in world cricket.
ISLAMABAD: In a landmark move for women’s cricket, Saudi Cricket and FairBreak have announced a five-year partnership to launch the Women’s World T20 Challenge, the first-ever professional women’s cricket tournament to be staged in Saudi Arabia. The inaugural season will begin in 2026.
According to a joint statement released on Friday, the league will feature players from more than 35 countries, marking a major step in Saudi Arabia’s growing engagement with global cricket.
FairBreak, a private organisation established in 2013 to promote gender equality in sports, previously staged the FairBreak Global Invitational T20 in Dubai (2022) and Hong Kong (2023). A planned edition in the United States was cancelled after multiple postponements.
The earlier Invitational tournaments, fully sanctioned by the ICC, featured international stars such as Chamari Athapaththu, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Wolvaardt, and Marizanne Kapp. However, Indian players were absent due to the BCCI not issuing No-Objection Certificates, and it remains unclear whether they will participate in the new Saudi-based league.
Officials said the Women’s World T20 Challenge aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, with aims that include developing local women’s cricket talent through structured pathways, increasing youth participation, fostering international collaboration, and building the sport’s presence within the Kingdom.
The launch of the new league further expands Saudi Arabia’s cricket footprint. The country hosted the IPL auction in Jeddah in 2024 and has been linked to backing a Grand Slam-style global T20 circuit. Saudi Arabia is also expected to stage fixtures in upcoming seasons of the ILT20.
With at least five confirmed seasons, the Women’s World T20 Challenge is set to become one of the most significant international platforms for women’s cricket in the region.
