MUMBAI: Hindi film actor and IPL team Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta is the new owner of the Stellenbosch franchise, which represents the city of Paarl, in Cricket South Africa's T20 Global League.
Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta.
The ownership of the Stellenbosch Monarchs was up for grabs after Brimstone Investment Corporation Limited had decided to end their interest in pursuing ownership early August. It was the only team among the eight to take part that did not have an owner.
“I am extremely proud to announce and warmly welcome Preity Zinta to South Africa and the T20 Global League family,” CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
“The introduction of a Bollywood star like Preity Zinta speaks volumes for the T20 Global League and finalises an eminent and enviable group of owners. Her experience and stardom will add value to the T20GL. It pays to work diligently and to be patient when setting up a League of the magnitude we envisage,” he added.
Zinta became co-owner of the Kings Punjab XI in 2008 and at that stage was the only woman owner of an IPL team.
The Stellenbosch team play their first home game on Saturday, 4 November at Boland Park, Paarl at 2.30pm (local time) against the Jo’burg Giants.
The T20 Global League is an international T20 cricket league based in South Africa. The T20 Global League will debut in the last quarter of 2017,with eight participating teams consisting of local and international cricket players. The eight T20 Global League franchises are privately owned and matches will be played across South Africa in the following cities: Benoni, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Paarl, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth.
Bollywood star and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan and Delhi Daredevils owner GMR Sports also own franchises in the T20 League. GMR owns the Johannesburg franchise while Shah Rukh’s franchise is based in Cape Town with left-handed batsman JP Duminy as the marquee player. The name of Khan's team is Cape Town Knight Riders.
For the record, CSA had offered a Tier 1 city (Johannesburg and Cape Town) in its T20 league for $50 million, to be paid over a period of 10 years, and Tier 2 cities for $30 million, also to be paid over ten years.
“I would like to compliment and thank Haroon Lorgat from Cricket South Africa for his unrelenting persistence, passion and belief in the T20 Global league which inspired me to come on board,” said Zinta.
“I firmly believe that this is the most exciting time for young South African cricketing talent. This league will give them an opportunity to take the leap from becoming the best in the country to becoming the best in the world.
“I hope the people of the winelands area of South Africa have an unrivalled fan experience during this tournament and believe together we will make our team and stadium something very special,” she added.
Protea Marquee player for the Stellenbosch franchise, Faf du Plessis said, "“I’m very excited to see that Preity Zinta has come on board. I have heard from my team mates that she is very good to work with, so I’m looking forward to working with her and seeing how she impacts our team space. She is also very passionate about the sport and I am sure local fans will have an awesome time at Boland Park,” commented Du Plessis.
Zinta is expected to visit South Africa some time next week.
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