SA20 final set for return to the Bullring

They will hope to back playing in front of their passionate home supporters for the first qualifier after the 30-game league phase before the remainder of the play-offs moves to the highveld with two matches at Centurion and the grand final returning to the Wanderers on February 8.

The Bullring hosted the inaugural final before it was switched to Newlands, which also hosted the play-off matches, last season.

Newlands will now only host MI Cape Town’s five mandatory home matches in Season 3.

“Every year we analyse this thing. Newlands had the final last season. We’ve now gone to three play-off venues,” SA20 League commissioner Graeme Smith said.

“It is so difficult because there is just one day between the last league game and the first knockout game and they are almost back-to-back in the same week.

“We are trying something new with three venues. I think ‘GQ’ certainly deserves a knockout game. They are getting one this year, and then two at Centurion, and the final in Season 1 was an amazing spectacle even though it got moved to Sunday.

“Every year we look at the scheduling, which was very tough this year with the (ICC) Champions Trophy right behind us. If you lose a day or two on your schedule, then it makes 34 games in that space very tough to put that puzzle together.”

The structure of the competition implemented in Season 2 will remain with the top two teams playing each other in Qualifier 1, followed by the Eliminator between the third and fourth-placed teams.

The loser of Qualifier 1 and the winner of the Eliminator will battle it out in Qualifier 2, for a chance to book their place in the Final, against the winner of Qualifier 1.

The opening game has increased in gravitas this season with MICT set to unveil their blockbuster signing, England Test captain and double white-ball world champion Ben Stokes.

The enigmatic all-rounder is currently on the sidelines due to an injury picked up while playing in The Hundred.

Smith believes that Stokes, along with the host of high-profile internationals such as former India international Dinesh Kartik (Paarl Royals), New Zealand duo Devon Conway (Joburg Super Kings) and Trent Boult (MICT), along with Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup semi-final stars Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai (both MICT), Naveen-ul-Haq and Noor Ahmed (both Durban’s Super Giants) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will take the SA20 to a new level in Season 3.

“As we welcome international talent to the roaring pool of local stars, we aim to deliver an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike,” Smith said.

“To see the six teams competing equally is important for us. There will be some serious cricketers on show, truly competitive teams.”

SA20 and Cricket SA also broke new ground at the Wanderers yesterday with the launch of the Schools SA20.

This exciting national competition will run from September 2024 to March 2025, with schools from 16 regions competing for the coveted title of Schools SA20 champions. Over 370 boys’ school teams and more than 200 girls’ school teams will participate with over 1 000 matches being played.

It is the first time in the history of South African cricket that a national girls tournament will be run concurrently with the boys.

“Schools SA20 is more than just a competition, it has the potential to significantly contribute to our cricketing future. There are a number of current Protea men and women who made their mark at a schools level. I can’t wait to see the next generation entertaining and showcasing their skills on this global stage and no doubt the next teenage cricket sensation will announce themselves to the world out of this competition,” Smith said.

“SA20 is also committed to working with CSA to invest in building the base of women’s players and developing the women’s game in South Africa. Our sponsorship of the U19 girls camps, combined with CSA’s and the government’s initiatives to professionalise the women’s game, will play a major role in growing the base of players for future Proteas Women’s success.”