Cricket has seen a massive transformation across the world, and ever since short formats have gained massive recognition. The official shortest format in the sport is the Twenty20 format. Many cricket leagues have gained popularity for their ten-over format and are renowned as T10 cricket.
Cricket Leagues have garnered attention for their fast paced game, thrilling encounters and neck-to-neck competition among numerous teams with players playing from different countries under one banner.
Additionally, the shorter duration of the tournaments makes it easier for the fans to follow the games, giving the cricket leagues enormous viewerships, global reach, and sponsorships.
In this article, we’ll look at the list of the Top 10 richest cricket leagues in the world that have consistently entertained the fans and have star-studded player lineups in their multiple-team franchises.
Richest Cricket Leagues in the world
1. Indian Premier League (India)
Net Worth: $10.9 Billion
The Indian Premier League is the most successful and biggest cricket league in the world. Not just in market value, but the popularity and viewership it gets from all across the globe is phenomenal. The IPL is the richest cricket league in the world with a net worth of over $11 Billion, keeps growing every year as a new season passes.
The tournament was established in 2008 after seeing the immense popularity of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2007 as the Indian cricket team won the championship.
The Indian Premier League comprises players from different parts of the world playing together under 10 team franchises. Most of the cricketers make more in the calendar window of the IPL from March to May than they do through their national teams. After witnessing the market expansion and popularity of the tournament the BCCI launched the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2022.
2. International League T20 (UAE)
Net Worth: $15 Million
The UAE International T20 League (ILT20) takes the number 2 spot in the list of the Top 10 richest cricket leagues in the world. With a net worth of $15 Million, the ILT20 takes place in the Calendar window during the beginning months of the year in January and February.
The tournament comprises over a hundred players playing from UAE as well as overseas, as they compete in six team franchises. The championship played its first season in 2023 and gained enormous success for the Emirates Cricket Board.
3. SA 20 League (South Africa)
Net Worth: $13.5 Million
The South African franchise cricket league, the SA 20 League is in the list of the Top 5 richest cricket leagues in the world. SA20 takes place in the Calendar window of the beginning months of the year In January and February, and as of now has played only one season in 2023 with a net worth of $13.5 million.
The SA 20 league was a great move by Cricket South Africa as they saw a decline in the performances of the team on the international stage. Cricket leagues are a great platform to bring out young and domestic talent, which can be a great asset on the international stage for the team. The tournament is played with six teams based in cities across the country.
4. Big Bash League T20 (Australia)
Net Worth: $10 Million
The Big Bash League is the most popular cricket league in the world. Having been conducted for over a decade, The BBL T20 League is the 4th richest cricket league in the world with a net worth of US$10 million.
The Big Bash league was first conducted in 2011-12, and ever since the games are conducted in the Calendar window of December to February. Conducted by Cricket Australia, the Big Bash league comprises eight teams, and each team franchise has a salary capital estimation of $1.25 million. After seeing the popularity and support for the Men’s Big Bash League, cricket, Australia launched the Women’s Big Bash League in 2014.
5. The Hundred (England)
Net Worth: $9 Million
Hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), The Hundred is a unique cricket league which is not determined by the number of overs but by a hundred balls bowled in the game and stands in the list of Top 5 richest cricket leagues in the world with a net worth of $9 million.
The tournament was established in 2021 as eight teams competed to lift the title. The format was inaugurated with an expectation for each match to last for 2.5 hours. Due to the short duration of the game, most matches of the tournament are conducted back to back in the same venue.
6. Major League Cricket (MLC)
Net Worth: $6.9 Million
The Major League Cricket is a professional cricket League founded in the United States of America. The tournament has been in talks for four years now and officially commenced in July 2023 for its first ongoing season with a net worth of $6.9 million.
The tournament comprises six competing teams and franchises based in cities in different states of the USA. Out of 6 teams franchises, three belong to the successful groups of the Indian Premier League, the Los Angeles Knight Riders, Texas Super Kings and MI New York.
7. Pakistan Super League (PSL)
Net Worth: $5.7 Million
The Pakistan super league, popularly known as PSL, has made headlines for years since its establishment in 2016. The double round robin format based tournament is conducted in the Calendar window of February to March. The PSL brand value has increased with every season and the tournament currently stands with a net worth of $5.7 million.
The Pakistan Super League functions in a different way than the other cricket leagues. Instead of operating as independent team franchises, the league functions as a single entity, wherein the team franchises are controlled by its investors.
8. Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)
Net Worth: $4.8 Million
The Bangladesh Premier League takes the number 8 spot in the list of the Top 10 richest cricket leagues in the world. Hosted by the Bangladesh cricket board, BPL has been organised by the BPL Governing Council since 2012 with a net worth of $4.8 million.
The Bangladesh Premier League is conducted in the Calendar window during the beginning months of the year in January and February. The tournament is conducted with six teams based in different cities of Bangladesh with approximately 120 players belonging to different countries. The salary capital of each team is approximately $700,000-$800,000.
9. Caribbean Premier League (CPL)
Net Worth: $4.5 Million
The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) stands on the number 9 spot in the list of the Top 10 richest cricket leagues in the world. Commenced in the year 2013, the CPL was established to replace the previously ongoing T20 tournament in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Twenty20. Over a decade, the CPL has grown to have a net worth of $4.5 million.
The championship comprises 6 team franchises competing with each other in the double round robin format to lift the title. Over the years, the Caribbean Premier League has been regarded as one of the most entertaining cricket leagues in the world.
10. Lanka Premier League (LPL)
Net Worth: $3 Million
The Lanka Premier League is the 10th richest cricket league in the world. Hosted by Sri Lanka Cricket since 2020, the Lanka Premier League has grown to have a net worth of $3 million. The Sri Lankan cricket league is conducted in the last month of the year, December.
The tournament is spread across five team franchises comprising a squad of 20 members, each taking the championship to have a total of hundred players from the domestic and overseas. The salary capital of each team is approximately $400,000-$600,000
FAQs
The Indian Premier League is the richest cricket league in the world. A net worth of $10.9 Billion has made it the biggest cricket league in the world.
The Net Worth of PSL or Pakistan Cricket Leagus is estimated to be around the $5.7 Million mark, making it one seventh richest cricket league in the world.
The BBL or Big Bash League net worth is estimated to be $10 Million. This makes it one of the richest cricketing leagues in the world.
