The league will feature six teams playing each other twice in a round-robin stage before the semis and final. In all, 33 matches will be played over four weeks starting January 10, next year.
“We continue to offer fans an immersive and engaging experience by strengthening our sports portfolio with some of the best cricket action through SA20,” said Anil Jayaraj, CEO, Viacom18 Sports. “T20 is the most popular cricket format with Indian fans. The history and legacy of South Africa cricket and the popularity of South African cricketers in India make it a thrilling proposition for cricket fans in India. We expect significant viewership and fan engagement as the event will be played in prime-time.”
The league will feature six teams – Joburg Super Kings, Pretoria Capitals, Durban’s Super Giants, Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Paarl Royals and MI Cape Town. All the teams are owned by groups that also own teams across various global leagues, including the Indian Premier League.
“This long-term partnership between the SA20 and Viacom18 as our official Indian broadcaster is a catalyst that supports our ambitions to build the world’s second biggest league,” said Graeme Smith, SA20 League Commissioner and former South Africa captain. “With six IPL owners expanding their brands in South Africa, Viacom18 are the perfect partner to take the SA20 into the homes of the passionate and cricket-loving Indian market.”
The inaugural SA20 auction in September saw over 100 players signed by the six teams. Teams could sign up a maximum of ten South Africans and seven overseas cricketers in their squad. For every match, each team will be allowed to have up to four overseas players in the XI. All teams have also opted to sign up one uncapped, young player.
The SA20 will see international superstars like Quinton de Kock, Faf Du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Eoin Morgan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Liam Livingstone, Maheesh Theekshana, Jason Holder in action.
“The benefits to domestic cricket will be far-reaching with more South African players exposed to a global cricket audience and a stimulus to build a strong and sustainable cricket ecosystem. As SA20, we look forward to working with the dynamic team at Viacom18 to build a world-class league,” Smith added.
ET first reported that JioCinema will be Viacom18’s streaming platform for all sports, including FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The SA20 is the second big cricket rights the company has secured after picking up the digital rights for the IPL for five years. It also has rights for the NBA, Diamond League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and top ATP and BWF events.
