Manama : The Street Cricket League (SCL) was officially unveiled at a gala dinner held at the Wyndham Grand Hotel, setting the tone for a bold, future-facing cricket property rooted in community participation and global standards. The evening brought together leading sports figures and stakeholders from the sports and investment sectors, reflecting the ambition behind the initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Khalil Alqaheri, Founder of the Street Cricket League, outlined a distinctive vision for SCL as a first-of-its-kind tournament designed for non-professional players while operating under internationally benchmarked tournament protocols. He emphasized the league’s deployment of advanced technology and modern systems to create meaningful pathways for talent, alongside a carnival-style format that transforms every weekend into a family-friendly sporting and entertainment destination.
Alqaheri further revealed plans to expand the league across the Gulf within the next three years, encouraging greater participation in cricket—the world’s second-most followed sport. He highlighted the league’s anticipated economic impact, noting that global broadcasting and international viewership will showcase Bahrain to millions worldwide, strengthening the Kingdom’s profile as a sports and investment hub and opening avenues for significant inbound investment.
Speaking at the event, Mohammed Mansoor, Chairman-Advisory Board of the Bahrain Cricket Federation, reflected on Bahrain’s cricket journey. Despite limited dedicated infrastructure, he noted that Bahrain has achieved notable international milestones, including sustained engagement at International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council levels, hosting World Cup trophy tours, delivering ICC Level 3 coaching courses, and executing a wide range of development activities over the past year—with further engagements planned in the year ahead.
Mansoor underscored the pivotal support and vision of H.H. Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa in positioning Bahrain as a leading cricket destination in the region and advancing the Kingdom’s presence on the global cricket map.
He emphasized the importance of platforms such as SCL in elevating Bahrain’s cricket ambitions, encouraging broader participation through similar leagues in the future, and commended Bahraini-led initiatives committed to enriching the cricket experience.
Concluding his remarks, Mansoor confirmed that the Bahrain Cricket Federation will extend full support to the Street Cricket League—facilitating operational challenges and providing the necessary institutional backing to ensure the tournament’s success.
The Street Cricket League is an innovative cricket platform focused on non-professional players, combining international tournament standards with technology-led operations and a family-centric, entertainment-driven experience. Headquartered in Bahrain, SCL aims to expand across the Gulf and contribute to the region’s growing sports economy.
