Via Matt Roller in espn.com: The auction marks Saudi Arabia’s first major play in cricket, though the foundations have been laid gradually. Prince Mishal bin Saud Al-Saud, chairman of the Saudi Arabia Cricket Federation (SACF), was pictured with BCCI secretary Jay Shah at the opening match of IPL 2023, while state-backed Saudi companies have signed lucrative sponsorship deals in the past. Visit Saudi, the state tourism arm, and Aramco, the state-owned oil giant, have both been prominent IPL sponsors. Aramco has also signed a long-term agreement as a premier partner of the ICC, including securing naming rights for match awards at World Cups. This year Rajasthan Royals wore the logo of Neom, a futuristic city being built on the Saudi coast, on their shirts.
