A cricket tournament for all South Africans

THEY promised it was going to be uniquely South African. So, out with the Global T20 League and in with the new Mzansi T20 League!

South Africa’s newest cricket competition will finally lift off in a few weeks time. And there will be nobody more relieved when the first ball is delivered than the big chiefs at Cricket South Africa (CSA).

The much-hyped tournament has been as welcome as a toothache for CSA ever since former chief executive Haroon Lorgat resigned last year and the subsequent postponement of the now defunct Global T20 League.

The fallout has caused severe damage to CSA’s image, and has also cost millions of rand in payouts to contracted players.

Even with the new tournament set to get under way, CSA could still face legal action from the former franchise owners, who believe they are entitled to be part of the new competition.

CSA have also yet to announce a title sponsor, and have virtually handed the television rights to the national broadcaster, the SABC.

But amid all this doom and gloom, the six venues have at least been announced.

Boland Park in Paarl was the big winner, and now the previously small union will dine at the same table as its big brother Newlands, as well as the Wanderers, St George’s Park, SuperSport Park and Kingsmead.

A further silver lining is that the new tournament will provide South Africa’s domestic cricketers with an added platform to showcase their abilities.

Equally, it will be another pay cheque to hopefully keep many from being lured by the pound to a Kolpak contract in the English County Championship.

The benefit of the tournament being aired on the SABC cannot be underestimated, either.

Cricket has for far too long been a sport played by the privileged, and even watched by them, too.

It will now be taken into the homes of the masses, and young children around the country can all dream of being the next Kagiso Rabada, Faf du Plessis or Hashim Amla due to the Mzansi T20 League.