Great excitement about a new cricket tournament
The local Pretoria cricket franchise that will be part of the new T20 Global League in South Africa is one of only two owned by South African businessmen.
South African cricket lovers are already licking their lips in anticipation of the excitement and action after Cricket SA recently launched the new T20 Global League.
It looks as though the new T20 tournament will change the face of the cricket format in South Africa, and local fans can look forward to see the world’s best players in action.
The new tournament will largely be based on the format of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with eight privately-owned franchises established in eight cities around South Africa.
The teams will operate independently of the current franchises, and players will be recruited from all over the world.
The tournament was officially launched in London recently, where it was announced that the local Pretoria team will be located at SuperSport Park in Centurion. It has already been bought by a local businessman, Osman Osman.
He is a South African-based entrepreneur and director of leisure lifestyle brand, Blu Blood. He will be one of only two local owners of a team in the new league.
It was also announced that the South African marquee player representing the Pretoria franchise will be the legendary ODI Proteas captain, AB de Villiers.
Having never been afraid to grab an opportunity when a challenge arises, Osman looks forward to hosting this new franchise at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
“Pretoria is home, it is where I grew up and it is where we will bring the world to South Africa. We look forward to promoting our beautiful country and to contributing to our local community and to the development of cricket in South Africa,” he said.
“Going through this process, you needed to have the appetite for it. This is a huge achievement for us. With our core business being entertainment, this is the next step into the sporting sphere that we wanted to achieve excellence in. But more than being a diversification for our company brand, this is a huge opportunity for South Africa, in terms of the exposure that we are going to be getting globally from a tournament of this magnitude. The influx of tourists and highlighting the magnificence of South Africa, it is something that every South African can be proud of and benefit from,” Osman said.
De Villiers was also very excited about the new tournament.
“This is a city close to my heart. It is the best city in the country, and by far the most beautiful. These are exciting times, and I am looking forward to this tournament. There is a lot of local talent coming through and getting the overseas players involved, it is great for cricket – and for the economy – of our country,” said the legendary batsman.
The player selection for the eight teams is scheduled for 19 August, with almost 400 players from 10 countries confirming their interest. Local and international cricket fans can expect an exciting season of cricket, with the tournament set to take place in South Africa in November and December.
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