(Reuters) – Baseball United has secured a deal granting it an unlimited term to organize its professional league and tournaments in Saudi Arabia, a source familiar with the situation informed Reuters on Tuesday.
The collaboration between Baseball United, the inaugural professional baseball league dedicated to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, and the Saudi Baseball and Softball Federation (SBSF) is set to be officially unveiled this week. It signifies the inaugural introduction of professional baseball to Saudi Arabia.
This alliance also entails the rights to new Baseball United franchises representing the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam – three of the most populous cities in the Kingdom.
“Saudi Arabia is leading the way in sports development, investment, and expansion in the Kingdom and beyond, and we are immensely proud to now include baseball in those ambitious plans,” remarked Baseball United CEO Kash Shaikh in a press release obtained by Reuters.
“This agreement substantially enhances Baseball United’s reputation and presence within the region, and, equally important, allows us to collaborate at the grassroots level to foster the growth of the sport in the largest country in the Middle East.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Baseball United will establish a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia and collaborate with the SBSF to cultivate baseball in the Kingdom.
The SBSF, which was established in 2019, will also partner with Baseball United to improve the national team with the goal of competing in upcoming World Baseball Softball Confederation tournaments.
Last November, Baseball United inaugurated its play in Dubai with the All-Star Showcase, marking the first professional baseball games in the region’s history.
The league is set to disclose its 2024 gameplay plans and its expansion franchises in Saudi Arabia later in the year.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
