Pakistan eyes PSL matches in Saudi Arabia as talks begin for Jeddah stadium
Pakistan is looking to take cricket to Saudi Arabia. Plans are in place to build a new stadium in Jeddah that can host international matches and Pakistan Super League games.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi is leading the talks. The board is in discussion with the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation over the project.
The PCB has already approved the idea. It has also sent an expression of interest to the Saudi body. However, the final approval is still pending. The location for the stadium has not been fixed yet.
According to reports from PTI, stadium will have floodlights and enough capacity to meet international standards. The board also plans to host Pakistan Super League matches there in the future.
“The PCB wants to promote cricket in the Saudi Kingdom and also hold some Pakistan Super League matches there, but a final document is yet to be signed for starting work on the new stadium,” the PCB source told PTI.
The idea first came from Saudi officials. They approached the PCB to explore building a stadium. They also want to start a Grand Slam style cricket tournament to grow their sports sector.
“Talks are in the initial stages, but PCB has made it clear it is on board with the Saudi body because of the brotherly ties between the two countries,” the source added.
“The PCB has shown interest because of the presence of a large Pakistani and other South Asian expatriate community in the kingdom.”
If the plan goes ahead, Saudi Arabia will enter the cricket hosting space. It will compete with the United Arab Emirates, which already has major venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The UAE has hosted many big events, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It has also hosted matches from the Indian Premier League and the PSL.
