CSA reveals latest plans for global T20 competition after two failed attempts

Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced a new global T20 competition starting in January 2023, which has the potential to give the beleaguered organisation a way into the lucrative white-ball TV market.

Despite announcing the new competition, the details of teams, players, funding and prize money remain under wraps for now.

Daily Maverick understands that former director of cricket Graeme Smith, who was cleared of racial discrimination at a recent arbitration hearing, has played a major role in developing the competition and will continue to be influential in delivering on the ambitious plan.

After two previous failed attempts to launch a T20 competition, at least this time, there is a domestic TV broadcast deal in place with pay channel SuperSport. It is the most vital aspect of making a franchise T20 League of this nature viable.

But there are still many details to iron out for the ambitious January 2023 start, most importantly, the sale of international broadcast rights. With six teams, and a conservative budget of R20-million per franchise, it will be a costly start-up.

Another crucial aspect to be finalised is that CSA and the South African Cricketers’ Association (Saca) will have to conclude a new memorandum of understanding (MOU). Or at the least, amend the current MOU to reflect the new competition and the players’ rights.

It would also be a good opportunity for CSA to go further and make players owners in the competition, by giving Saca a small percentage stake in the competition.  

Other aspects such as ownership of clubs and the contracting of players from overseas need to be finalised. Finding television audiences in foreign countries — especially India — is vital to ensuring the financial success of the tournament.

A player auction is scheduled to take place and according to CSA, there is “considerable interest” from unnamed owners, to establish the six proposed teams.

Each team will have up to four foreign players, and the six teams will play in a double round with the top three sides moving to a play-off. In total, 33 matches are scheduled to be played over a three to four week period from January and probably into February. It is the last clear window left in a congested global calendar.

“We are excited by the formation of something this fresh and invigorating, which also offers the opportunity for private investment into the franchises,” said CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki.

“CSA has already received interest from a number of potential local and international investors.”

Moseki emphasised that this is an entirely new event, adding that South Africa has a rich crop of talent who would benefit from exposure through a franchise league. He said that a sustainable business model had been created for both the league and the teams, with a healthy salary bill to attract the very best local and international players.

“We are delighted to invest in a product that will change the face of South African cricket. There is an early-year gap in the calendar, so the timing is ideal,” Marc Jury, SuperSport CEO said.

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