After forging an equity deal with the premium broadcaster SuperSport, Cricket South Africa (CSA) is now all set to launch a new T20 Tournament. However, the new tournament is yet to get a name, as the earlier Twenty20 Global League brand cost them more than R180 million when the inaugural edition of the same was called off last year. But, on Friday, CSA promised a “world-class” competition that will be delivered to a global audience.
A deep rift developed between Supersport and CSA as the T20GL took shape last year, as then-CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat demanded the fee for broadcasting rights which was double of what broadcaster was willing to pay. As a result of that, the organization fired Lorgat, and after failing to agree on a fee with a broadcaster, the tournament was postponed as well.
Two weeks ago, CSA’s acting chief executive denied that an equity agreement with SuperSport was being manipulated, but that deal has now been settled. Although CSA did not reveal the percentage share of SuperSport, it confirmed that the governing body will be the majority of stakes of a new company that will run the tournament.
ALSO READ: T20 right vehicle for globalizing international cricket
Talking about the same, CSA’s acting CEO, Thaban Moroe said, “CSA is delighted to announce this equity partnership with our long-term broadcast partners, SuperSport. We have put the problems we experienced with the proposed Global T20 League behind us and look forward to hosting the new competition (which will be named later). This event will create wonderful opportunities for local players (including current Proteas and up and coming youngsters) to hone their white-ball skills.”
Bringing SuperSport on board as an equity partner will at least solve the biggest problem that CSA experienced last year, which was the absence of a broadcaster. There is no doubt about the fact that SuperSport is the only broadcaster with the financial resources required to make the tournament viable and now they will be selling the broadcast rights on to international broadcasters. Sony is understood to be interested in broadcasting the tournament in India.
ALSO READ: Attiitude.com signs Gayle as global brand ambassador
However, in the current scenario, CSA is unlikely to receive the sort of income from the tournament that Lorgat had intended. But Moroe nevertheless labeled the deal as “the biggest in the history of South African domestic cricket, which will ensure the welfare of the game in South Africa.”
Talking on the same lines, SuperSport chief executive Gideon Khobane said, “CSA has been an outstanding partner of SuperSport’s for many years. This agreement sees our relationship taken to the next level, where we will pool our mutual resources in a partnership which will create high-quality cricket and provide entertaining content for cricket fans locally and broadcast viewers both domestically and globally. To have Proteas and international stars competing together with local talent will improve the quality of T20 cricket produced by South Africa.”
However, in November, South Africa is scheduled to play three ODIs and one Twenty20 international in Australia between November 4 and 17 and the T20 league will be of no use, without the top players of the country.
