Cricket South Africa relaunches new T20 League

A year after the Global T20 League was aborted, Cricket South Africa (CSA) will be re-launching its franchise-based T20 league. The abrupt ending of the league had earlier cost the South African governing body an estimated US$14 million, including compensation paid to 144 contracted players. The newly re-launched Twenty20 league is set to run from November 9 until December 16.

The re-launched Twenty20 league will feature six teams and venues will be decided after a bidding process. Each team will consist of 16 players, with a minimum of three and maximum of four overseas players. South African players, who have signed Kolpak contracts in England, making them ineligible to play for South Africa, are classed as overseas players.

The Global league was beset by problems like no television deal or very little sponsorship in place. This led to the firing of former chief executive Haroon Lorgat in September 2017. However, CSA have reached an agreement with SABC, the public broadcaster, to televise the matches and provide radio coverage. The announcement of a three-year deal came just over a month after subscription channel SuperSport withdrew from a joint venture with CSA in which SuperSport would have had a 49 per cent stake in the league.

The eight franchises in the Global league were privately owned including one team Stellenbosch Kings owned by Indian Actress Preity Zinta. Legal action may still be possible from owners who were unhappy about the way their involvement was cancelled.

Details about the league funding are yet to be announced but CSA stated that players would be centrally contracted by the league. The deadline for player applications is October 2 and a draft will be held on October 17. There will be a league stage of 30 matches, followed by an eliminator play-off and a final.