South Africa T20 league kick starts on 9th Jan

The SA20 Season 3, dubbed the "Cricket Extravaganza," is set to commence on January 9, 2025, and will run through to February 8, 2025. This third season of the South African Twenty20 cricket league will feature 34 matches (30 league matches and 4 playoffs) across six venues in South Africa, hosted by six teams

• Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the defending champions, are aiming for a third consecutive title.
• MI Cape Town, Joburg Super Kings, Pretoria Capitals, Durban's Super Giants, and Paarl Royals are the other competing teams.

Image Credits: Zee News

Here are some key updates for Season 3:

• Player Arrivals: Teams have started welcoming their players. Notable overseas players include Trent Boult, and Rashid Khan for MI Cape Town, and Joe Root and Dinesh Karthik for Paarl Royals, among others.
• Schedule: The tournament kicks off with Sunrisers Eastern Cape hosting MI Cape Town at St George's Park. The final will take place at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
• Format: The tournament retains a playoff structure with Qualifier 1, an Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final. Each team will play 10 matches (two games with each of their opponents) in the league stage, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
• Media and Broadcasting in India: The SA20 will be broadcast in India on Star Sports 2 and available for live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Globally, the league has coverage in various regions through different broadcasters
• Auction: The player auction for SA20 Season 3 was held on October 1, 2024, which included the introduction of wildcard players like Matheesha Pathirana for Joburg Super Kings and Dinesh Karthik for Paarl Royals.
• Dinesh Karthik Factor: Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik has been named as the League Ambassador for SA20 Season 3, adding to the tournament's appeal. In addition, DK will also play for Paarl Royals in this season.

This season promises to be another exciting chapter for cricket in South Africa, showcasing both local talent and international stars. The 2nd season was a huge success for the Cricket South Africa and wishing the many more such financial returns for the board in this upcoming 3rd season who needs it very badly.