The organisers of SA20 remain confident that their tournament is secure as the world’s second-strongest cricket league after the IPL, despite the Big Bash League (BBL) aiming to claim that position. Commissioner Graeme Smith believes the league’s solid foundation ensures it won’t be threatened by rival ambitions.
SA20’s Strong Position in Global Cricket
Now entering its fourth season on Boxing Day, SA20 boasts the second-highest salary cap in franchise cricket — R41 million (US$2.31 million). With all six franchises owned by IPL teams, the league has a strong financial backbone and a global appeal. A high-profile player auction is scheduled for September 9, which Smith says will further cement SA20’s reputation.
“𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝑷𝑳. 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏, 𝒘𝒆’𝒗𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒅,” 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒉.
Smith added that the league’s focus has always been on maintaining quality and ensuring SA20 remains a top destination for players and fans alike.
BBL’s Push for Second Place
Smith’s comments come shortly after Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed the BBL’s ambition to become the second-best T20 league worldwide by seeking private investment. Greenberg admitted IPL’s dominance was unmatchable but expressed determination to make BBL a strong competitor.
“𝑼𝒏𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒍𝒚, 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅. 𝑻𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔,” 𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒈 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
This move would make the BBL the last of the established leagues to pursue privatisation, following in the footsteps of The Hundred and ILT20.
Player Availability and Scheduling Challenges
One key difference between the two tournaments lies in player availability. The BBL clashes with Australia’s international summer, limiting access to their Test stars. In contrast, South Africa’s top players — both international and domestic — will continue to prioritise SA20, even at the cost of missing international matches.
Smith defended this approach, citing South Africa’s World Test Championship final victory as evidence that multiple formats can co-exist with proper planning.
“𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅, 𝒘𝒆’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆,” 𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅.
International Stars and Exciting Auction Ahead
SA20 continues to attract overseas players, including England’s white-ball stars. However, with the Ashes series overlapping, Test players may not feature this year. Big names like Jos Buttler, though, are already confirmed, with Buttler pre-signed by Durban’s Super Giants for the new season.
Smith highlighted that only 13 of 36 retention spots were taken by South African players, leaving plenty of room for international signings. He believes this will create one of the most exciting auctions yet.
Preparing for Season Four
The fourth season will run during South Africa’s festive period, with no home Tests scheduled. Smith revealed that work is being done to improve stadium facilities, lighting, and pitches ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, after last season saw some worn surfaces.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝑺𝑨’𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒘𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒎𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎,” 𝑺𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
The SA20 auction will take place in Johannesburg on September 9, with player registrations closing on August 18.
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