Cricket South Africa Announces Revised Schedule For Franchise Competitions

After the novel coronavirus pandemic disrupted the original scenario, Cricket South Africa (CSK) announced revised schedule for three franchise competitions and senior provincial fixtures for both men and women for 2020-21 season. This also marks the return for domestic cricket in South Africa.

According to an official media release, the franchises will play a T20 competition in addition to the Momentum One-Day Cup and the CSA Four-Day Franchise Series following the decision to postpone the Mzansi Super League. The franchise season will start in the first week of November while provincial cricket for both men and women will start at the beginning of January.

CSA confirms no reduction in domestic matches despite late start

Cricket South Africa acting chief executive Kugandrie Govender mentioned that there is no matches reduced from the original schedule despite late start to the season. He also added that the four-day season and One-Day Cup will have the six competing teams divided into two pools of three teams each.

“We are pleased that no matches have been reduced despite the late start to the season,” commented CSA Acting Chief Executive Kugandrie Govender. “Both the four-day series and the Momentum One-Day Cup will have the six competing teams divided into two pools of three teams each. They will play a double round of fixtures against teams in their own pool and a single round of cross-pool matches.

“This provides for a minimum of seven matches for each franchise and these will be followed by a five-day final at the conclusion of the CSA Four-Day Franchise Series contested by the two teams topping its respective pool. In the Momentum One-Day Cup after the conclusion of the preliminary round teams ending 1st. and 2nd. in each pool will contest a cross-pool semi-final each with the respective winners progressing through to the final.

“The T20 competition will be played over a single round (5 matches) with the top two teams qualifying for the final.

“I cannot stress enough the importance of our domestic system and the important role it plays in our talent development pipeline for the Proteas. One only has to look at the number of players who made successful international debuts in the three formats last season,” concluded Govender.

The pools for each domestic competition in the ongoing season has been announced as well.