CHENNAI: When it comes to franchise cricket, IPL is and will be number one financially, commercially and cricket wise. But South Africa’s SA20 is making its presence felt in this world. Not making a lot of money by the bucketful, but bringing bread to the countries. With the league scheduled during the summer months of December and January, all the league needed was for the country’s best players to participate. And the names followed. Heinrich Klaasen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungisani Ngidi, Nqobani Mokoena, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs. These names brought people to watch, and the numbers have suggested the same. According to a statement from SA20, 22 of the 34 matches including the final were sold out. 84 percent of the total capacity of the stadium was filled.
Former South African pacer Dale Steyn believed that he emerges from teams trying to hire localities as part of the backroom staff. He recalled an example from his days as bowling coach for Sunrisers Eastern Cape last year. “Adrian Birrell was the head coach. Russell Domingo is the hitting coach or assistant coach. Baakier Abrahams is the pitching coach, although he’s probably more of an assistant coach. They’re all local. They all live in the Eastern Cape. What they did then was they picked players who were local players. And I think what he meant was how do you think he’s a local player Tristan Stubbs. Ottniel Baartman player All these guys are local,” he said in an interaction virtual before season 5.
