Cricket in South Africa needs a marquee women’s franchise T20 tournament as much as it needs the SA20’s continued success. James Richardson expands.
The cynics scoffed when the BCCI launched the Indian Premier League but it has now become a central part of the global cricket calender and launched the careers of countless stars for not just India but several other nations to boot.
The BCCI has tentatively waded into the world of women’s franchise T20 cricket.
The well-attended T20 Women’s World Cup in 2023 proved that South African audiences will turn out to see women’s cricket in the format.
South Africa should not be waiting around to see what happens but rather should come out swinging to join the WPL and the already well-established Women’s Big Bash.
There would need to be significant investment but that is precisely why South Africa needs to make progress.
South African players litter the WPL and WBBL as well as the women’s Hundred tournament and a franchise tournament that allows for a large number of foreign professionals could showcase both established and new stars in ideal conditions.
The WPL’s inception felt overdue but improved performances from their women eventually swayed the BCCI.
South Africa can make a massive leap forward in the professionalism of women’s cricket right now.
The success of the SA20 has given CSA a blueprint for growth and they should pair the tournaments in branding identity and possibly also their ownership.
This particular market is yet to be thoroughly saturated and could be the big push the Proteas need to continue competing with the big three (India, England and mostly Australia) and New Zealand in the women’s game.
A new T20 event for women would likely be welcomed by top players from around the world as it would offer players the opportunity to get more time on the pitch as well as earn a tidy payday.
South Africa has shown that it can be a stunning venue for a T20 cricket event and we need a women’s SA20.
