CSA T20 league named ‘SA20’, player auction scheduled for September 19

The newly incepted CSA T20 league has been adorned with the name SA20. Graeme Smith announced the new name of the franchise-based T20 league, along with confirming the player auction for the inaugural season to be held on September 19 in a press conference on Wednesday.

All the participating six teams, owned by IPL franchises, have already acquired some prominent signings, with three teams having announced five acquisitions each from a pool as part of the direct-acquisition process. Graeme Smith was appointed the commissioner of the upcoming league in July earlier this year and commented on South Africa’s attempt at creating a premier Twenty20 event after a couple of earlier failures.

“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.

The former South African captain also hinted at a women’s version of the tournament but due to the organization of the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2023 in South Africa, post the SA20, it was not feasible to have both tournaments this time around, but it is in the pipelines for the future.

The six teams have announced the players they have acquired so far

The CSK-owned Johannesburg Super Kings have announced Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana, Romario Shepherd, and Gerald Coetzee in their line-up.

RPSG Durban, owned by the RPSG group, have picked up Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Reece Topley, and Prenelan Subrayen.

While MI Cape Town, owned by Reliance Industries, have Rashid Khan, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Dewald Brevis.

Paarl Royals, the sister franchise of Rajasthan Royals have signed four players: Jos Buttler, David Miller, Obed McCoy, and Corbin Bosch. And Pretoria Capitals – Anrich Nortje and Migael Pretorius – and Sunrisers Eastern Cape – Aiden Markram and Ottniel Baartman – have two players each.

The SA20 is scheduled to commence in January next year as South Africa aims to reignite franchise cricket in the country after the failures of the T20 Global League and Mzansi Super League.