T20 league: CSA get their timing wrong

Yesterday was the deadline for potential owners of teams in Cricket South Africa’s new T20 league to formalise their interests.

It sounds pretty exciting and it very well could be, but South Africa are, apparently, already also being criticised for their plans.

The deadline has coincided with the crucial round of International Cricket Council meetings regarding its funding model and new constitution.

A report earlier this week noted how various member countries are concerned over the vast amount of T20 tournaments popping up and how it’s making it increasingly difficult to schedule international cricket.

In this regard, CSA’s timing has been unfortunate.

Just as they sent out tenders and signed marquee Proteas and international players, cricketing boards around the world were developing a new international schedule to give bilateral series more relevance.

That means one thing: some boards now feel CSA are undermining international cricket.

They believe the Global Destination League – CSA’s new product – is another crucial window where the Proteas can’t play others.

It’s a valid concern but you get the feeling it doesn’t grasp the reality of international cricket.

CSA – and many others – don’t make a lot of money.

Only certain tours help the governing body post a profit.

The new T20 league is an attempt to generate a more stable extra source of income, hopefully.

Even a “rich” board like the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is controversially plumping for a similar eight-city tournament to replace its T20 Blast, which is actually relatively popular.

The snag is that it would eliminate all 18 counties (or “provinces”) from the equation.

You can imagine it won’t be a popular decision.