PCB drops bombshell on BCCI-IPL as PSL set to expand into Saudi Arabia

A big and unexpected development is now coming from the Middle East, which has now caught everyone’s attention. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now looking beyond its own country and planning something huge in Saudi Arabia, where the interest in the game is growing rapidly.

The Pakistan Cricket Board is already in the headlines for making some interesting or shocking calls, like picking uncapped youngsters for the Bangladesh tour, and banning a number of overseas stars from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over the alleged contract break.

Pakistan Super League set for new home? PCB makes a big move

And this latest move is also about the Pakistan Super League. The PCB has reportedly made its final decision to take its league to Saudi Arabia amidst the ongoing PSL 2026.

After testing success in the UAE, the cricket fans in the Middle East can also watch PSL matches in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

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As reported by a senior Pakistani journalist, Saleem Khaliq, the PCB is all set to build a new cricket stadium in Jeddah, and this venue will host the Pakistan Super League matches in the future.

🚨 SAUDI ARABIA TO HOST PSL 🚨

- PCB will construct a cricket stadium in Saudi Arabia.

- The stadium will host PSL matches in the future. (Saleem Khaliq) pic.twitter.com/KmhzRQSXjP

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) April 21, 2026

Pakistan Cricket Board signs EOI with Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation

Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board has approved an expression of interest (EOI) to work with the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation (SACF) to develop a stadium in Jeddah. This decision was taken in a board meeting in Lahore, where officials discussed how to expand cricket outside Pakistan.

However, this historic move was not sudden. Back in December 2024, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi visited Saudi Arabia and met Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud. During that meeting, Pakistan clearly showed interest in helping Saudi Arabia build cricket grounds and grow the game in the country.

Millions of people from India and Pakistan live in Saudi Arabia, and because of this, several local clubs started forming there, and the game began to reach across different cities. Things became more organized after SACF was set up in 2020.

ICC status and IPL Auction boost cricket in Saudi Arabia

Since then, the focus has been on creating proper systems, running local tournaments, and preparing teams for bigger competitions in the future. Saudi Arabia also became a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2003 and later got the associate nation’s tag in 2016.

Saudi Arabia made the big headlines when it hosted the IPL auction in Jeddah in 2024. That event showed that they are now serious about entering the cricket business and global events. Right after the event, the PCB made the most of the opportunity to play their big card.

If this plan moves forward smoothly, Saudi Arabia could soon become a new center for cricket, and fans might see big matches happening there in the coming years. Presently, the PSL 2026 is running in full flow, and 32 matches have already been played across the two venues in Pakistan.

At the same time, the Pakistan national cricket team is gearing up to travel to Bangladesh next month for a two-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

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