SA20 2025 dates announced by Graeme Smith; tournament to be played from January 9 to February 8
Published - 07 Jun 2024, 04:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:13 AM
SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith has confirmed the timeframe for the highly anticipated third season of the T20 tournament. On Friday, June 7, Graeme Smith announced that next year's SA20 tournament will commence on January 9 and the month-long league will conclude on February 8.
The third edition of the SA20 tournament will be played before the Champions Trophy 2025, which will be held in Pakistan next year. The league comprises six teams: Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Mumbai Indians Cape Town, Pretoria Capitals, Paarl Royals, Johannesburg Super Kings, and Durban Super Giants.
Our Plan Is To Continue To Their Own The South African Summer - Graeme Smith
Graeme Smith emphasized the league's aim to dominate the South African summer following two successful seasons. The former South African skipper expressed eagerness to deliver another remarkable sports and entertainment spectacle for both players and fans.
“Following two successful seasons, our plan is to continue to own the South African summer and provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy some of the biggest names in world cricket, whether in packed stadiums or via the global broadcast,” Smith said in a statement.
“Our fixtures, auction, and player announcements will be revealed over the coming months and planning is already fully in motion. We can’t wait to bring another incredible sport and entertainment event to life for players and fans,” he added.
SA20 has quickly established itself among the top global franchise T20 competitions due to its fiercely competitive cricket matches, substantial attendance records, expanding global and local viewership, growing digital engagement, extensive media coverage, and high player enjoyment ratings.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinched the title in the first two editions of the tournament under the leadership of Aiden Markam. Pretoria Capitals and Durban Super Giants finished as runners-up in the two seasons. Joburg Super Kings, Paarl Royals, and MI Cape Town will hope to make an impact in the next edition.
Heinrich Klaasen is the leading run-scorer in the first two editions. Klaasen scored 810 runs in 25 matches at an average of 47.64 and an outstanding strike rate of 185.77, including one century and seven fifties. Ottneil Baartman is the leading wicket-taker, with 30 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 8.21.
When Will Pakistan Super League 2025 Take Place?
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has already announced its schedule for next season, running from April 12 to May 20 across Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. The league stage is set to conclude on May 10, with playoffs at neutral venues. The PSL 2025 season will coincide with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Champions Trophy is scheduled for the February-March window next year, which led to the rescheduling of the PSL. This will mark the first time that the schedules of the IPL and the PSL overlap, impacting the participation of foreign players. The PSL is regarded as one of the best franchise-based leagues, after the IPL.
