Johannesburg – It is fitting that a domestic season that would be dominated by Twenty20 cricket begins with this format in 2022-23, with Cricket South Africa making every effort to promote the T20 Challenge.
The eight Division One teams will be in Potchefstroom for the next three weeks. With tickets starting at R1, the CSA hopes to lure the local student community to the North West Oval’s grass embankments over the following few weeks.
Matches will also be broadcasted on channels and streamed via apps in England, India, and Australia, in addition to DStv, which will broadcast the competition across its various package tiers.
Due to the recent SA20 auction, many spectators will be interested in the T20 Challenge, even though the Proteas are away at the T20 World Cup, since they will be able to evaluate some of the surprising selections made at the auction. The following three weeks are an opportunity for those players who were not selected to make a statement, and if injuries occur, there may be a late call-up for the SA20.
The Lions, who had a dismal tournament at St. George’s Park last year, have been strengthened by the additions of all-rounders Wiaan Mulder and Evan Jones. These two were among the most surprising selections at the SA20 auction, with Mulder going to the Durban Super Giants for R1.9million and Jones, who impressed for Northern Cape in the T20 Knockout competition that began last season and was subsequently signed by the Lions, going to the Paarl Royals for R1.7million.
Lions head coach Wandile Gwavu stated that last season’s loss in Gqeberha gave him much to ponder over the off-season, with the desire for additional firepower driving several of the union’s offseason additions. Gwavu remarked, “We had some good players, but in the two Twenty20 competitions last year, were those players suited to play in that format?”
“Having Cameron Delport, Jones, and Wiaan Mulder available for the shorter formats is a significant addition,” said the coach.
Two of the top ten most expensive acquisitions for the SA20 will be in play in Potchefstroom, including Sisanda Magala of the Lions. The 31-year-old was acquired by the Sunrisers Eastern Cape for R5.4 million, and he is aware that his performance would be scrutinized more closely in the coming weeks. “You know (the spotlight) will be there,” added Magala. “There will be eyes on you, you must do well, and if you don’t, there will be this and that. But it’s part of the game; you must accept both the good and the bad.”
Donovan Ferreira, who took time off for the T20 Knockout, performed a devastating job ending innings for the Northerns Titans, and earned R5.5 million to join the Joburg Super Kings, is the other pricey acquisition.
The Lions’ Mitchell van Buuren and Codi Yusuf, as well as the North West’s Duan Jansen, Caleb Saleka, and Delano Potgieter, are among the younger players to watch in the auction.
With so many SA20 acquisitions on display, Monday’s encounter between North West and the Lions is shaping up to be quite delectable.
The competition will begin with a match between the Dolphins and the Titans.