Franchise cricket has started to grow at a rapid pace, with every country trying to formulate and mold leagues that help them unearth fine talent, expanding the pool of players aspiring to make it big in international outings as well.
Movements that bring redefining change were essential for women’s cricket in India. The WBBL in Australia and the Hundred in England had their ripple effects on their national sides and so India had to stage a platform to fine tune their players before playing at the most competitive level.
One of the leagues that has relished two memorable editions is the SA20 League. With the league’s triumphant debut in January 2023, South African cricket has seen a comeback. The league celebrated its 100th game milestone with hope for continued success after reviving national teams, showcasing youthful talent and garnering international attention.
Legendary South African player AB de Villiers suggested the notion of a women’s SA20 league, citing the men’s version’s three-edition success as a “model and recipe” to follow. The brand ambassador of the league acknowledged that it is the right time to tap on the escalating growth of women’s cricket.
“I have seen some very successful women’s leagues, the incredibly successful women’s T20WC that South Africa played not very long ago. Women’s cricket in general is growing incredibly fast and there is no reason why there shouldn’t be an SA20 women’s league,” De Villers said in a select media interaction ahead of the SA20 final between MI CapeTown and Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
“We can pace up as we have got the model and recipe, we can just copy and paste and it would be great for women’s game in the country,” he added.
The league has been a big boon for Proteas cricket. Due to their performances in the competition, players such as Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, and Lhuan-dre Pretorius have become well-known celebrities in South Africa. But the shining stars aren’t just the batters. Bowlers like Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, and 18-year-old Kwena Maphaka have also been able to demonstrate their abilities on a worldwide scale.
“Every year I see players whom I have never heard of and it looks like they are around for ages. I picked this up in IPL many years ago and I would always come back and tell my parents, my wife and friends that I don’t know how they do it but every year incredibly talented players have come through,” said the 40-year-old.
De Villiers praised his former teammate and SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith for transforming the league into a prosperous brand, citing the former’s leadership abilities and comprehension of the friendship with India as key factors.
“He could have gone the either route to do it for ourselves or can use that for the people around and make it bigger and better. Graeme has played cricket, and he understands how the tournament should look like. He was humble enough to use the expertise not only for South Africa but abroad as well,” he said.
In addition to capturing the interest of South African supporters, the SA20 has been warmly welcomed around the world. The league has attracted a decent fan following in India, as viewers follow their favourite athletes and up-and-coming prospects.
The league is just second to the IPL in terms of competition and quality, and the fact that Dinesh Karthik was the first Indian player to play in it shows how much progress has been made in the last three years. Furthermore, the relationship between the two cricketing superpowers has been further cemented by the fact that IPL teams now own SA20 teams.
(Quotes sourced from Press Trust of India)
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