FairBreak Announces Ambitious Saudi-Backed T20 League, Aiming to Become “the Wimbledon of Cricket”

FairBreak Announces Ambitious Saudi-Backed T20 League, Aiming to Become “the Wimbledon of Cricket”

A revamped FairBreak tournament is set to launch in 2026 with aspirations of becoming “the Wimbledon of cricket,” as organisers revealed a long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia and confirmed that 90 women’s players from Full Member and Associate nations will compete in a multi-team T20 event. The competition, structured through Cricket Saudi, has applied for ICC sanction and will run for five years.

FairBreak managing director Ramasamy Venkatesh said the new-look tournament will be hosted in a single city, using one stadium and one hotel to foster community and cross-team interaction. “Every day at breakfast, women across different countries and teams will be mixing, chatting, and forming relationships,” Venkatesh told ESPNcricinfo. “Players will be able to speak to their heroes like Shabnim Ismail and Katherine Sciver-Brunt. That kind of relationship-building and feedback is invaluable.”

FairBreak’s Distinctive Model to Continue

Founded in 2013 by former Australia captain Lisa Sthalekar and her manager Shaun Martyn, FairBreak has long aimed to elevate women's cricket and promote gender equality across the sport. Its invitational-style tournaments culminated in a formal launch in 2022, featuring six teams made up of both Full Member and Associate players.

The new tournament will retain FairBreak’s most distinctive features:

  • No player auction

  • Teams selected by a panel of 4–6 selectors

  • Equal squad composition — half from Full Member nations, half from Associates

  • Four-tier salary bands ranging from US$20,000 to US$5,000

The six teams will remain FairBreak-owned, though corporate sponsorships will be available for branding. Past sponsors include the Barmy Army. Venkatesh reiterated that boosting player pay remains central to their mission. “Our long-term vision is pay parity. If we secure enough sponsorship, the first thing we will do is increase player compensation.”

Pathway to Greater Global Inclusion

FairBreak has previously featured players from 35 countries, but Indian players have been absent due to scheduling conflicts. With the new September–October window—after The Hundred and before the WBBL—organisers hope to secure participation from India’s centrally contracted stars, who already feature regularly in overseas T20 leagues.

A major focus remains widening opportunities for Associate nations, including Saudi Arabia, where women’s cricket is still emerging and largely played in tape-ball formats. “Full Members like India, England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia already play a lot of cricket,” Venkatesh said. “Our aim is to help Associates step up. Women’s cricket is the fastest-growing segment of the sport.”

The ICC’s recent launch of an Emerging Nations Trophy for women and expansion of the Women’s ODI World Cup underscores the global momentum FairBreak hopes to complement.

A New Chapter After Turbulence

FairBreak’s trajectory has not been without setbacks. After tournaments in the UAE (2022) and Hong Kong (2023), a planned event in the USA was postponed from 2023 to 2024 and eventually deferred indefinitely, due to scheduling congestion around the Women’s T20 World Cup and multiple international tours, along with internal restructuring.

The organisation underwent leadership changes as well: founder Shaun Martyn stepped down in January 2024, and Venkatesh—also founder of the Glencore healthcare group and an ICC Development Panel umpire—was appointed managing director in September 2024.

By then, discussions for a new long-term event were already underway, with the Middle East quickly emerging as the preferred venue. Negotiations concluded in early 2025, securing what FairBreak describes as a deal that will ensure “sustainability” for the foreseeable future.

Scheduling Challenges Remain

Despite the new format, the 2026 edition will face calendar clashes, most notably with the women’s Asia Cup scheduled for mid-September to early October, as well as bilateral series including England’s tour of Ireland and West Indies hosting Zimbabwe.

Still, FairBreak believes its partnership with Saudi Arabia and its emphasis on global inclusivity position it to become a central fixture in the women’s cricket calendar.