On April 29, CSA has announced plans to host a six-team franchise T20 league, stating that its first iteration will be held in January 2023 in a window immediately after Proteas men’s tour of Australia. January-February has been identified as a full-time slot in the calendar for this league.
The tournament will see leading South African international and best domestic players mingle with the overseas stars, specifically four, in a playing XI. CSA are looking to base their ambitious project along the lines of the marquee Indian Premier League. The league will be managed by a company formed through the CSA-SuperSport partnership.
“The company is looking at a very attractive player salary bill per team that will rival other leagues around the world outside of the IPL,”
stated the release issued by the cricket board.
The tournament will feature six privately-owned T20 teams, playing each other in a double round-robin event before the top three make the cut for the next round. In total, there will be 33 matches held across the country in a three or four-week designated window.
CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said the board is already garnering interest from prospective bidders and investors for its tournament, expecting to fetch a solid financial moolah at the point of selling off the six teams.
“We are excited by the formation of something this fresh and invigorating, which also offers the opportunity for private investment into the franchises. CSA has already received interest from a number of potential local and international investors,”
he told CSA’s website.
SuperSport’s hand and interest in partnering with the board is a critical detail in the launch of this league and its future welfare. The lack of it proved to be a decisive jolt to CSA’s previous brainchild, the Global T20 League, and its launch back in 2017.
While the governing body was trying to sell the broadcasting rights for the GLT20 separately, SuperSport argued they are entitled to screen it given their contractual agreement to show all international and domestic cricket in South Africa. In the end, CSA couldn’t find any broadcaster to ensure their project takes off.
