CSA invites bids for new T20 league, IPL parties show interest

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has invited bids for the formation of the country’s new T20 league from parties that are interested, and also appointed England’s international audit firm, Deloitte & Touche, for the assessment. The deadline to make bids was initially set for July 11, Monday, but it is now extended until Wednesday upon requests from the participants.

There were expressions of interest (EoI) from the Indian Premier League (IPL) teams such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Delhi Capitals (DC), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Mumbai Indians (MI), along with a Kevin Pietersen-led party. The CSA has now received 29 EoIs, including a few other Pakistan Super League (PSL) and IPL team owners.

CVC Capital said to be one of the names to find interest

A CSA official told Cricbuzz that the teams will be announced at the end of the month. It was also learned that the private equity firm, CVC Capitals, which also owns Gujarat Titans (GT), are interested to bid in the South African league.

Among others to show interest are investors of the tournament Global League T20 2017, which was abandoned due to a lack of broadcasting partners. The CSA officials have confirmed that there will be no base price but the allotment of the teams will be carried out depending on the assessment of the bids.

There has been no official confirmation about the number of teams yet, but the word among the IPL teams is that there will be six franchises for the competition, with two of them to be reserved for South African bidders. The South African board plans to hold the tournament in January-February even if it is going to be around the same time as another league, IL T20 of Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).

A CSA league document stated there is a gap between the best (IPL) and the second-best T20 league. It said that the CSA should focus on creating the second-best T20 league 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.