Cricket South Africa has opened the doors to its new T20 competition, calling on companies and individuals to bid to own one of eight franchises that will participate in the domestic event that is due to start next summer.
A tender was issued worldwide on Saturday to apply to own and operate a franchise in the new tournament which for now carries the name ‘T20 Global League’.
Although South Africa was among the originators of the T20 format, Cricket SA has fallen a long way behind the excitement and colour that has made the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash League such popular events not just in those countries, but around the world.
While the likes of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and David Miller have become huge superstars in the IPL, they have had few opportunities to display their talents locally, primarily because the current domestic T20 tournament is so small – featuring just six franchises – and has grown somewhat lame as it’s not changed since first being established in the 2004/05 season.
Potential owners must; submit “an Expression of Interest,” submit “a formal bid,” after which those bids will be evaluated before successful team owners are announced. That formal process, which starts today will run to the March 3.
Cricket SA made a presentation outlining the competition to the International Cricket Council, which is currently holding a series of meetings in Dubai to discuss the future of the sport. Cricket SA’s president Chris Nenzani, said the organisation received a “favourable response,” to its plans.
Cricket SA’s chief executive, Haroon Lorgat believes the new competition will provide an enormous opportunity to grow the sport, widen the fanbase and even attract tourists to South Africa.
“This is a unique opportunity, it’s different to the other leagues. (South Africa) is in a great time zone, there’s great infrastructure, we have a great cricket culture and it’s an opportunity for us to provide a new ‘sport-tainment’ type product.”
Cricket South Africa hope that by sprucing up the domestic competition, they can keep more of the country’s superstars at home and playing in front of local audiences. In addition they also hope to attract some big name stars from around the world to participate in the League as well.