According to sources, discussions have taken place between the Indian government and advisors to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding Saudi Arabia’s potential investment in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The conversations revolve around a proposal to transfer the IPL to a company with an estimated valuation of $30 billion, with strong interest from Saudi Arabia as a major stakeholder.
The September Meeting:
Reports suggest that in a meeting that took place in September, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed interest in investing $5 billion in the IPL and expanding similar cricket tournaments in England and Europe. The discussions raised the possibility of Saudi Arabia making substantial investments in the cricketing domain.
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Saudi Arabia’s Enthusiasm:
Saudi Arabia is keen on reaching an agreement and is willing to provide substantial support for the initiative. However, the final decision on the proposal is expected to be made after the upcoming Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) elections.
Key Players in the Talks:
It’s important to note that the BCCI is currently led by Jay Shah, the son of India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah. Jay Shah is known for his close association with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nevertheless, no definitive response has been provided by the BCCI or the Saudi government’s Center for International Communication representatives regarding these discussions.
These talks signify a potential transformation in the world of cricket, with significant investments on the horizon. The outcome of these negotiations will undoubtedly be of great interest to cricket enthusiasts around the world.