On May 16th the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation concluded the regional award ceremony for its National Cricket Championship in Dammam, Eastern Province, as the Kingdom’s grassroots cricket competition continues to expand across Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Times attended the ceremony in Riyadh on May 9th, where officials, players and representatives from regional cricket associations gathered to recognize champions and standout performers from the Riyadh and Qassim qualifiers. The event marked the latest stage in the federation’s nationwide tournament, which now spans 14 regional associations and involves 405 teams and nearly 7,500 players from across the country.
Now in its third season, the National Cricket Championship has grown into one of the Kingdom’s largest grassroots sporting initiatives. Organizers said the competition reflects the federation’s wider efforts to develop the sport nationally while contributing to Vision 2030 goals focused on increasing sports participation and improving quality of life.
Tournament figures released by the federation highlighted the scale of the competition, with 1,160 matches played across 101 grounds. Players scored a combined 382,818 runs, including 9,244 sixes and 36,534 fours, while bowlers recorded 31,377 wickets.
At the Riyadh ceremony, Samacom CC claimed the Riyadh Cricket Association title, while Punjab Evergreen were crowned champions of the Riyadh Cricket League. In the Qassim competitions, Jani Cricket Club secured the Qassim Cricket Association title, with Al Fatah CC taking the Qassim Premier League championship.
The awards were presented by Nawaf bin Moied Alotaibi, Vice Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation, and Tariq bin Ziad Sagga, Chief Executive Officer.
Nawaf said the continued increase in teams and participants demonstrates the growing reach of cricket across Saudi Arabia.
“The growth we are witnessing today reflects the success of efforts to expand the game across the Kingdom and build a strong competitive foundation that supports the future of cricket while aligning with Vision 2030 objectives in enhancing sports participation and quality of life,” he said.
Tariq observed that the championship had become an important pathway for talent development, “The National Cricket Championship has become an important platform for discovering talent and developing competitive pathways, while also strengthening the game’s community presence and creating a more professional and sustainable sporting environment.”
The remaining regional award ceremonies were held in Tabuk on May 12th and Yanbu on May 15th. The federation’s final gathering will be in Abha on May 22nd.
The final stage of the National Cricket Championship is scheduled for September, when champions from all qualified associations will compete for the national title.
The regional awards ceremonies come as Saudi cricket enters a new phase of development. Earlier this month, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation announced the launch of the Kingdom’s first professional T20 competition, the Dunes T20 League, set to begin in October with six teams and international players expected to feature. The announcement marks a significant step in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen cricket pathways from grassroots participation to professional competition, as the sport continues to expand across the Kingdom.
Published by Boudou Gueffai | editor-in- chief
