‘Bring Global League: SA ready to play host’
CRICKET SA (CSA) is playing its cards close to its chest when it comes to tomorrow’s T20 Global League franchise announcement at Lord’s.
With East London’s Buffalo Park and Paarl’s Boland Park being sounded out for extensive renovations, there is a high possibility of these historically rich cricketing outposts being franchise hot spots.
Despite being on the periphery of hosting international matches with Buffalo Park (West Indies, 2015) and Boland Park (New Zealand, 2013), the former venue hosted four Indian Premier League Matches in 2009 and all had a result despite East London’s unpredictable April/May weather.
Buffalo Park hosted a test against Bangladesh in 2002 and Paarl’s ground has yet to host a test. But it will host the second of three ODIs against Bangladesh on October 18.
CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said all their International Cricket Council-accredited venues will be available in the competition and some of the grounds were in dire need of upgrades.
CSA announced this week they had set aside R350-million for stadium upgrades over the next three years.
“Every one of our existing stadia haven’t had major upgrades since the World Cup in 2003. Like in the case of St George’s Park, we are fortunate that the local councils in Paarl and East London have come aboard to assist with the upgrades,” said Lorgat. “All 11 of our ICC-accredited venues are available for any prospective bidder to base a franchise team.
“Bidders are required to nominate a stadium of their choice. There is no connection between the new citybased T20 League and our existing franchise setup.”
Lorgat was also coy in terms of the extent of South African ownership when it comes to the franchises, saying all will be revealed in tomorrow’s announcement.
Whether there will be English, Australian and Indian player representation remains to be seen as England and Australia will be engaged in the Ashes series while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) doesn’t allow its players to partake in other tournaments.
The first three Ashes tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth will coincide with the tournament even though South Africa’s marquee T20 players and a few international T20 cavaliers who have traversed the length and breadth of the T20 world will also be available.
“The new T20 franchise team owners will be revealed on Monday [tomorrow] and so will the cities they have chosen be announced. The Expression of Interest process was open to all South African businesses and individuals,” Lorgat said.
“We don’t chose or move franchises. The bidders will nominate the city of their choice. On transformation, each owner will be responsible to ‘adopt a Hub’ in their locality.”