League Commissioner Graeme Smith was overjoyed to welcome in season two of the SA20 and expects to stage an even bigger and better ”Sportainment” experience for the South African public.
“In my opinion, the teams look much stronger than in season one. There is incredible local talent and some superstars from around the world that have joined us.
We know the competitive nature of the six franchises and we expect the cricketing stories to be fantastic again,” Smith said.
“And then the fans … an event like this can’t be at this level without people coming into the grounds and supporting their teams and having a fantastic time with us over the next few weeks. A lot of hard work has gone into getting this platform ready.
“We want people to come out and have a wonderful time with us. If it is a Tuesday night at 5:30pm, then anyone in the country can have a great time. It’s catered for everyone.”
Durban’s Super Giants captain, Keshav Maharaj, echoed Smith’s sentiments, especially in terms of the crowds flocking back to Kingsmead.
“To be able to see the crowds back, especially from a Durban point of view, it’s been a while since we experienced that. The atmosphere was electric. There was a lot of fun and buzz at the ground. Fans really came in their numbers. Hopefully they build on that again this year and come back in their numbers,” Maharaj said.
The experienced Joburg Super Kings captain, Faf du Plessis, believes the League will become the cradle of South African cricket.
“We have seen over the years at the IPL what a difference it makes to young guys. It is a big stepping stone for the future of South African cricket. Some of the guys weren’t even born yet when I started playing. So for me, the superstars we can get here are very important for the tournament. Guys that many of the young players would only have seen on TV,” Du Plessis said.
MI Cape Town captain, Kieron Pollard, meanwhile, was ecstatic to be back in the Mother City and is hoping to turn around his team’s fortunes after a disappointing maiden season.
“I’ve been here before. I’ve enjoyed the city. I’ve enjoyed Newlands and I’ve enjoyed the fans. So, I’ve come and tried to make a difference. Obviously, from a team perspective, we didn’t do as well as we thought we should have,” Pollard said.
“So, now we just want to give the fans something to cheer about. For me, I’m in the twilight of my career, so it’s about enjoyment and hopefully passing on the experience to the younger guys.”
Paarl Royals skipper, David Miller, cannot wait for the derbies against local Western Cape rivals MI Cape Town and also his hometown side, Durban’s Super Giants.
“It’s always going to be a big game against Polly’s team (MI Cape Town) and that’s always going to be a biggie between the two of us. Personally, coming from Durban and not being with them last season and this season, it is always nice to do well against them. Really excited about what lies ahead for this big competition,” Miller said.
It is not just the action on the field that has everyone waiting in anticipation, with Pretoria Capitals captain, Wayne Parnell, eager to get a taste of the unique atmosphere at Centurion.
“Centurion is a ground I’ve really enjoyed playing at, especially for the Proteas. And obviously being there last season with the Capitals was really special.
“We were lucky enough to have a great fan base last year and it’s really nice to see the engagement for season two. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone braaing on the grass banks again,” Parnell said.
Meanwhile, last but definitely not least, defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain, Aiden Markram, is hoping for a repeat of the magic they produced last season.
“It was a fantastic competition last season. We got into the knockouts by hook or crook, and at least played two games of good cricket after that. It was quite special. It’s a great memory for us and we will give it our best crack again this year,” Markram said.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape kickstart the SA20 season when they face Joburg Super Kings on Wednesday at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
