CSA T20 league might get postponed for the second time

Supersport, the South African T.V network, pulled out of an equity deal with CSA for the new T20 league in 2018 to form a third entity to run the tournament. As per reports by Supersport, they had terminated discussions for an agreement on July 23, still showing interest to broadcast the event. SuperSport was due to hold a 49% share in the new league after CSA opted to move away from private ownership. Four of the eight owners of the original T20 Global League (GLT20) are considering legal action against CSA, further complicating the organization's plans to launch a new T20 league. 

"It is important to highlight that CSA is a profitable sporting federation and that much as we believe in the product, we do not have to host a T20 league to assure financial sustainability. The game of cricket in SA is in a healthy state as demonstrated by the growth in cricket development at grassroots levels, a healthy pipeline of young future talent, as well as women's cricket that has progressed with leaps and bounds," League CEO, Thabang Moroe said. 

Despite losses of over R200 million (USD 14.1 million) following the failure of the inaugural GLT20, CSA said its annual financial statements would still show "substantial reserves". Given that CSA's research has shown that a T20 tournament can take anywhere between four and seven years to break even, it is no longer looking at a league as a way to obtain financial independence away from ICC grants, in the same way former CEO Haroon Lorgat was.

Lorgat, who conceptualised the GLT20, believed CSA could lessen its reliance on "Big Three" tours (hosting India, England and Australia are the only profitable series for South Africa) by launching its own IPL-style league. That was one of the key reasons Lorgat sought private investment. Now that CSA does not regard a T20 league as a major cash-cow, its approach to the concept is completely different from Lorgat's. 

“CSA believes that this can become a global sport event on the national calendar. However, the desire to host such an event cannot be considered at all cost. In this regard the CSA approach to cautious optimism might not be a popular approach. As a responsible governing body, CSA must ensure that an aspirational event is not to the detriment of the bulk of many cricketing activities that currently serve players and supporters,” CSA’s release read. 

The T20 league is penciled in for November and December, when there are no other international fixtures in the South African calendar. After hosting Zimbabwe until mid-October and a short white-ball trip to Australia in early November, South Africa will not play any cricket until Boxing Day, when Pakistan arrive.