Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday announced a new franchise-based T20 tournament. The first edition of the competition will be played in January 2023, immediately after South Africa’s tour to Australia.
The first month of the year will then become the window for the league.
“We are excited by the formation of something this fresh and invigorating, which also offers the opportunity for private investment into the franchises,” CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said in his official statement.
“CSA has already received interest from a number of potential local and international investors,” he added.
A new company formed by CSA and the broadcaster SuperSport will manage the tournament.
“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, the CEO of SuperSport, said.
The league will comprise six privately-owned franchises playing each other twice before the top three sides move to the play-offs.
In total, 33 matches will be held in three to four weeks. Like the Indian Premier League (IPL), CSA’s new T20 competition will allow up to four international players to feature in the playing XI of each team.