JOHANNESBURG: Kugandrie Govender, CSA’s acting CEO, says the decision to postpone South Africa’s premier T20 tournament is due to various national and international logistical reasons caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place in India from October to November 2021, we understand the importance of providing domestic cricketers the opportunity to impress for selection. Therefore, in lieu of the MSL T20, CSA will stage a single-round domestic franchise T20 competition early next year. This will give players ample time to prepare and stadiums the chance to recover financially by welcoming fans back to support their favourite domestic players,” says Govender.
In recognition of its importance, CSA will schedule this competition in a congested second half of the 2020/21 season.
CSA also deliberated that its international broadcast revenue or earnings could decrease should the MSL tournament continue without the international and national cricket superstars that local and international fans have come to expect.
The MSL teams and headline sponsor, while equally disappointed, have expressed their understanding to CSA and reaffirmed their commitment to the MSL T20 tournament when it resumes in 2021.
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