'Graeme Smith is jealous because ILT20 has...' - Virender Sehwag launches brutal attack

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag responded to former South Africa captain Graeme Smith's critical comments about the International League T20 (ILT20). Virender Sehwag said that Graeme Smith might be jealous of the International League T20, which features a number of international stars.

The ILT20 started on January 11 and will end on February 9. On the other hand, the SA20 began on January 9 and concludes on February 8. Graeme Smith, who is the commissioner of the SA20 league, recently criticized the ILT20, stating that the UAE-based T20 tournament wasn't beneficial for the game.

Sense Jealousy There Because We Have a Plethora of International Stars - Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag said that Graeme Smith's comments were driven by jealousy. He stated that the ILT20 attracts a large number of international stars, whereas the SA20 has struggled to bring in big names. Sehwag added that the mix of international players and local UAE talent is beneficial for the tournament.

"I sense jealousy there because we have a plethora of international stars coming in, whereas their league is starved of such international players. I can understand his (Smith's) pain, but this is even better for the ILT20. You get to see established players here along with some local UAE talent who are rubbing shoulders with legends and experienced pros," Virender Sehwag said on the YouTube channel Snitch.

SA20 and ILT20 Competing to Become the Second-Most Prominent Cricket League

The SA20 and ILT20, both competing from January to February since 2023, are vying to become the second-most prominent franchise-based cricket league after the IPL. The SA20 has faced controversy, including South Africa forfeiting the bilateral series, but it has also led to the rise of several T20 players.

The SA20 follows the structure of T20 leagues, allowing teams to field up to four overseas players in their playing XI, with the majority of the team comprising local players. The ICC has imposed an overseas player cap for T20 leagues, but associate nations' events like ILT20 and MLC are exempt from this rule.

The ILT20 allows up to nine overseas players in the playing XI, with four local players also included in the roster. In contrast, the SA20 requires squads to have 11 local players in a 19-member squad, including at least one rookie under the age of 22 who hasn't played in the tournament before.

We See Ourselves as Very Different from the ILT20 - Graeme Smith

Speaking at the captain's day press conference in Cape Town, Graeme Smith criticized the ILT20, stating that such leagues are detrimental to cricket because they lack sufficient investment in local cricket. He emphasized that the SA20, unlike the ILT20, focuses on benefiting South African players.

"We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We're a South African league, with a majority of South African players, and our ultimate goal is to benefit South African players," Smith said.

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