Picture Credit: Twitter
Cricket South Africa (CSA) is all set to introduce yet another T20 league after failing twice earlier. In the process, a significant development has taken a place as CSA has invited bids from the interested parties and has appointed international audit firm, Deloitte & Touche, for the assessment work.
According to reports, Monday (July 11) was the initial deadline to submit bids which was later extended by two days (up to July 13) on the participants' request. Reports have further confirmed that the teams for the highly-anticipated T20 league will be announced at the end of this month. The CSA has reportedly received 29 expressions of interest (EoI) which includes franchises like Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and a Kevin Pietersen-led consortium.
Report published in Cricbuzz stated PSL franchises have also shown keen interest in the CSA's T20 league, but CVC Capitals, the US-based private equity firm that owns Gujarat Titans, the defending IPL champions have emerged as frontrunner among others. Dubai-based Channel 2 Group Corporation, which had named its Port Elizabeth team as Nelson Mandela Bay Sports, and PSL's Lahore Qalandars are in the fray among others.
The CSA officials have confirmed that there is no base price but the allocation of teams will be done on the financial evaluation of the bids. As per reports, Cricket South Africa will have six franchises, with two of them likely to be reserved for the local South African investors.
Notably, CSA's league document mentions that the focus should be on creating the second best T20 League in the world, as IPL is undoubtedly the best in the world. "There is a clear gap between the best (IPL) and the 2nd best league. CSA should therefore focus on the opportunity to create the 2nd best T20 League in the world," stated the document.