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Cricket News: Goal is for SA20 to be 2nd biggest league after IPL: Graeme Smith | Graeme Smith sets lofty goal for SA20 League
Former South Africa captain and SA20 T20 League commissioner Graeme Smith has set a high goal for the competition. In an interview with timesnownews.com, Smith spoke about how the league, which has significant financial potential, will help South African cricket going forward.
However, Smith said that the importance of the tournament goes beyond just the revenue it generates, but how those funds are utilised. “It’s not only about revenue for us it’s about being able to build a sustainable product and invest back into the game in South Africa,” he said. “I think we have attracted the right type of partners for that. With six franchise owners, commercially, we are just beginning in the market place but I think there are a couple of key milestones that we have been able to achieve already.”
Aim for SA20 is to be the second biggest league behind the IPL – Graeme Smith
In the interview, Smith spoke of how South Africa can no longer rely on other nations for revenue and survival. Several cricketing nations now have established T20 Leagues, and with more on the horizon, much of the calendar will be taken up by different franchise tournaments.
“It was absolutely crucial [to have a T20 league of our own],” said the former Proteas’ captain. “We can’t rely on everybody else for the financial gain. I think that’s a very risky place to be in world cricket currently.”
“It’s well documented that everybody is kind of positioning themselves and making sure that they are taken well care of. South African cricket needed to do the same.”
Smith also spoke enthusiastically about the league’s potential given the partners it has been able to attract. Positioning the league as one that can sit second behind the IPL was key in attracting investments, and a number of IPL franchises have come on board.
“There are always butterflies in the stomach when you try to build something big”, he said. “When we started this process it was about figuring out how we can develop something that can become substantial, something that puts the 20-over domestic league in South Africa really on the map.”
“If we need to do it, we need to do it really well, position ourselves as the second-biggest league behind the IPL. We also wanted to attract investments and ownership that could help us build a sustainable product.”
Speaking of the IPL, Smith said that the tournament has set such a great standard that no league can match. However, tournaments like the SA20 league can take a leaf or two out of how the IPL has grown over the years.
“The IPL is an incredible tournament,” said Smith. “I think it set the standard for everybody else. I don’t think any league will get to the same level as IPL. We are looking to build something substantial in South Africa and aim to be just behind them is a huge goal because they have set the standard so high. What they have achieved is incredible.”
SA20 League to kick off on January 10, 2023
The inaugural season of the SA20 League will get underway on January 10. The tournament will run into February and consist of 33 matches. MI Cape Town, Durban Super Giants, Johannesburg Super Kings, Paarl Royals, Pretoria Capitals and Sunrisers Eastern Cape are the six teams vying for the coveted trophy.
