SA20: "Hope We Can Develop That Talent To Play Under Pressure On A Global Stage" - Graeme Smith Hopes SA20 Will Help South Africa Win World Cup

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) new Twenty20 League (SA20) will start in South Africa from January 10 to February 11, 2023. The league provides a platform for young South African cricketers as well as foreign players in top teams from around the world. The player auction was held on September 19, and middle-order batsman Tristan Stubbs was the most expensive pick.

MI Cape Town will take on the Paarl Royals on January 10 at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town. The league consists of six teams, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Mumbai Indians Cape Town, Pretoria Capitals, Paarl Royals, Johannesburg Super Kings, and Durban Super Giants, who will compete in 33 games over four weeks for the maiden title.

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I Thought We Had A Good Chance – Graeme Smith

Former South African captain and SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith is optimistic that the SA20, South Africa’s new franchise T20 league, can help the national side win a World Cup and end their ICC title quest.

“I actually thought we had a strong team in this World Cup in Australia, I thought we had a good chance. But obviously disappointed with the way we finished. I think what we want to create in this league is that there’s so much talent, hope we can develop that talent to play under pressure on a global stage,” Smith, the SA20 commissioner, said at an event in Mumbai as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

25-35 Players In The Next Couple Of Years – Graeme Smith

The former Proteas captain commented on the success of the Indian Premier League in unearthing great cricketing talent for India and hoped that the SA20 would do the same for South Africa.

“I know I keep talking about the IPL but you look at the amount of strong cricketers that have come through in the IPL. Looking at trying to find 15 players, hopefully, there’s 25-35 players in the next couple of years at a level where it makes the selectors’ jobs very, very difficult. Those that are used to playing big games are exposed to big games. Unfortunately, South Africa has to deal with these questions all the time until they actually win a tournament,” said Smith.

South Africa has failed to win a men’s world cup in 16 attempts, including eight ODI world cups and eight T20 world cups. Despite several close calls in knockout games, they have failed to advance beyond the semifinals in five of the last six ICC white-ball tournaments. South Africa was eliminated after losing to the Netherlands in their final group-stage T20 World Cup match.

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