CSA in association with SuperSport set to launch a new league

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Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the launch of a new franchise-based T20 tournament. According to the media release by the board, the tournament will be in association with SuperSport and will be first played in January 2023.


The release also stated that it would feature overseas players as well, with a player auction to be organized later. Each team will be allowed to have up to four overseas players in their playing XI. 


"We are excited by the formation of something this fresh and invigorating, which also offers the opportunity for private investment into the franchises," CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said. 


"CSA has already received interest from a number of potential local and international investors."


The tournament, reportedly, will feature six privately-owned teams, and they will play each other twice in a round-robin stage. After that top three will enter the Playoffs.


A total of 33 games will be played over three to four weeks. Marc Jury, the CEO of SuperSport, said, "We are delighted to invest in a product that will change the face of South African cricket. There is an early-year gap in the calendar, so the timing is ideal."


SuperSport's support for the league is crucial for the tournament to get going as they are CSA's domestic broadcast partner. 


Earlier in 2017, CSA could not launch the Global T20 League without the broadcaster's buy-in. The cricketing governing body then launched the Mzansi Super League in 2018 and gave the broadcast rights to the SABC for a minimal fee. 


The MSL featured eight teams and ran for just two years, and CSA had to spend over R100 million per edition. However, the pandemic and financial situation of CSA is believed to be the reason for the discontinuation of the same. 


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