CSA tries to plug gap
T20 Global League flop leaves fixture vacuum
Cricket South Africa (CSsA) is bustling around frantically trying to fill the gaping fixtures hole in their calendar that has been left open by the embarrassing postponement of the T20 Global League between November and December.
CSA general manager Corrie van Zyl‚ one of the officials tasked with the difficult job of filling that gap‚ says they have to come up with a plan because not having cricket for a period of six weeks in the middle of the season will not be ideal.
The T20GL‚ which was steadily generating interest from the South African public, and has attracted some of the biggest names in the game‚ was postponed for a year this week as a result of a lack of a broadcast deal and a title sponsor.
“We are consulting with relevant stakeholders, including franchise owners and the players, to see what we can do and an announcement will be made soon,” Van Zyl said.
He could not confirm whether CSA was considering changing the franchise fixtures or engaging Pakistan or Zimbabwe‚ who have openings in their fixtures.
Pakistan’s last match of the year is the third and final T20 against Sri Lanka in Lahore on October 29 and they only return to action on January 6.
Zimbabwe are hosting the West Indies in a two-match test series‚ which ends on November 2 in Bulawayo, before arriving in SA for a one-off day/night four-day test against the Proteas in Port Elizabeth from Boxing Day. –