The newly-launched CSA T20 league has been named ‘SA20′ as the league commissioner Graeme Smith announced the news on Wednesday. The date for the players’ auction has also been revealed, which will take place on September 19 in a press conference.
The initial edition of SA20 will feature six teams, all owned by the different franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL). All participating teams have already roped in big names from all across the world except Pakistan. The reason for not inducing Pakistani talent is BCCI’s cut ropes with Pakistan Cricket and political relations instability between the two nations.
After a couple of failures to inaugurate a t20 league, CSA has finally become successful, acquiring major assistance and investment from IPL. The parent IPL teams are likely to induce their IPL players into the CSA T20 league, now called SA20.
Despite the IPL teams will to induct their Indian and international players in the SA20, they have not been allowed by the board to sign Indian cricketers for the new T20 league. In case any Indian cricketer wishes to play any foreign league, including IPL’s invested SA20, the player will have to cut all ties with BCCI.
While opening up on why SA20 has been chosen as the league’s name, Smith narrated in a conference that,
“We selected a name for its simplicity and something that can be uniquely ours as we enter this new and exciting phase of cricket in South Africa. We hope it’s something people will enjoy and want to be a part of because it’s been a joy for us to create it,” Smith said in the press conference.
Smith also hinted at the women’s version of the CSA T20 league, which is not possible due to the cricket-packed schedule for now. Since ICC Women’s World Cup 2023 is scheduled in South Africa, it is not feasible to hold two big tournaments at once.
