The new Pro20 Cup brings South Africa’s domestic divisions together in a 16-team competition featuring 71 matches.
South African domestic T20 cricket has undergone a major shake-up with the introduction of the Pro20 Cup.
The tournament combines the previous T20 Challenge and T20 Knockout competitions, bringing Division 1 and Division 2 sides into one competition.
Eight Division 1 teams, seven Division 2 sides and CSA Emerging make up the 16-team field.
They will be divided into two pools of eight, with four Division 1 sides and four Division 2 or CSA Emerging teams in each group.
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Each side plays the other seven teams in its pool once before the top four from each group qualify for the Super 8s.
Those teams will then play opposition from the other pool, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals on 13 November.
The inaugural Pro20 Cup champion will be crowned the following day.
The biggest change is the amount of cricket.
There are 71 matches on the schedule, compared to 32 Division 1 fixtures last season. CSA says 47 will be shown on SuperSport and 24 streamed on its YouTube channel.
It also removes one of the major barriers between South Africa’s two domestic divisions.
Instead of Division 2 players only occasionally being able to measure themselves against those in the top tier, the new format puts the teams in direct competition.
Knights captain Dane Piedt believes that creates an important opportunity for younger players.
“For us, it’s a breeding ground for young players coming up against guys who are available to play for the bigger teams,” he said.
The competition will not count towards the two-year promotion and relegation standings, meaning teams can compete without their Pro20 results having an impact on movement between the divisions.
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For Warriors captain Matthew de Villiers, the expanded schedule is also something players have been asking for.
“We’ve asked for more cricket as well,” he said.
“We get to travel to different parts of the country, some lovely grounds, some tough grounds to get to.”
There will also be greater movement within squads as teams negotiate a longer competition and players move in and out because of international commitments.
The result is a tournament with more teams, more matches and more players getting an opportunity to make an impact.
South Africa’s domestic divisions remain separate elsewhere.
For the Pro20 Cup, though, they will finally meet on the same stage.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
