SA, Indian owners of new global T20 league?

Expressions of interest from around the world

HAROON Lorgat has just arrived back at his offices at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.

The chief executive of Cricket South Africa has been locked in meetings all morning.

There’s no time to take a break – his schedule is packed for the remainder of the day and the demands of his job will only intensify – Lorgat is planning South Africa’s newest T20 tournament, which will debut in just under eight months.

Lorgat is finalising an agreement with a “big star cricketer” to play in the upcoming tournament.

“Unfortunately I can’t reveal which players will be playing at the T20 tournament,” he says.

“But what I can tell you is that some of the best cricketers in the world have expressed an interest.”

For months Lorgat and Cricket South Africa have been planning the T20 Global Destination League.

The tournament, which will comprise eight privately- owned franchises, aims to attract high-profile internationals in a model similar to the Indian Premier League, the Big Bash League and the Caribbean Premier League.

The tournament is set to run every year for the next decade.

“T20 is the format that everyone is embracing,” he says. “It’s a revenue generator, and it’s a very attractive format. We’ll also attract new fans to the game, and new audiences.

“The league or franchise concept has done very well elsewhere in the world. We’ve got a very favourable time zone and we need to make use of that.”

Lorgat has been “astounded” by the level of interest shown by cricketers and fans around the world.

“Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. We knew South Africa is a great location and people will want to come here. The level of that interest is amazing.”

Cricket South Africa, says Lorgat, has received more than 150 expres- sions of interest from around the world over ownership of the eight franchises in the new T20 league.

Last Friday’s expression of interest deadline revealed the most likely owners will be local or Indian.

“I’m amazed there has even been interest in Australia. We have also had interest from Singapore, the UK, the US, and the Middle East.

“This is about brand South Africa and positioning the country across the globe. It’s like the World Cup coming every year to South Africa.

“We expect foreign tourists, foreign players, our own Proteas. The best players congregating for that period. That in itself brings challenges. There are logistical arrangements we have to get through.

“There are work permits, visas, and there is staging at those venues that we have to get ready every day for a six to eight-week period.”

The tournament will also provide a platform for domestic cricketers to showcase their talents and to gain invaluable experience from established cricketers.

“This tournament will give high quality competitive cricket. It will bring in foreign players to play alongside our domestic stars, so it’s the perfect platform for our local stars.

“It could well be the opportunity for young players to show their quality and stake a claim in the national team.”

Haroon Lorgat