Cricket
What makes the SA20 different? Did South Africa really give up ODIs to join the new league?
South Africa has finally started a franchise T20 tournament after three tries. The SA20 starts on Tuesday. It is not the Global League T20 or the Mzansi Super League. Here’s what you need to know about the new league.
If it doesn’t have a T, is it still a T20 tournament?
Aha, so you’ve noticed this odd thing. Well, this T20 tournament doesn’t have a T, and it also doesn’t say “Premier League” or “League.” So it’s really becoming a naming trend all by itself. In fact, Graeme Smith, the SA20 commissioner, said that they left out the T to show that they wanted to be different.
So what makes it different?
There is one big thing, though. Before the toss, captains will be able to choose 13 players for their teams. After the toss, they will choose the final XI. So, once they know whether they’ll bat or bowl first, they can make decisions about how to play as a team. But other than that, it’s still a T20 tournament, even without the T, and it’s pretty similar to one you may have heard of. There are a total of six teams, and they will play a round-robin phase where each team plays the other team both at home and away. After that, there will be semi-finals and a final. There was an auction before the tournament, and each team can have up to 18 players. Most of these players are from South Africa. On game days, they will be able to put four foreign players in each starting lineup.
This reminds us the a little of the IPL…
Ka-ching! All six teams are owned by IPL franchises, and their cutesy names have even been given to cities in South Africa. We have the Joburg Super Kings, the Pretoria Capitals, the Durban Super Giants, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape, the Paarl Royals, and everyone’s favorite reinterpretation, MI Cape Town (pronounced MY Cape Town).
This must mean a lot of money is at stake, right?
You’re right about that. IPL teams’ high bids are one reason why no South African business was able to join the league. Even though the prices haven’t been made public, it’s been said that each franchise cost more than a million dollars, with Johannesburg and Cape Town being the most expensive at USD 28 million each. The good news is that these investors will get their money back as soon as the first year is over. Even though CSA said it would take five years, the league is expected to make money as early as the first year, thanks to a good broadcast deal in India and then with other global TV providers.
There are prizes worth more than $4 million. At the auction, mega bucks were also thrown around. Tristan Stubbs was the most expensive buy at USD 520,000, which is worth a whopping R9.2 million. Other Rand millionaires include Rilee Rossouw, Donovan Ferreira, Marco and Duan Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Sisanda Magala, George Linde, Heinrich Klaasen, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Daryn Dupavillon.
You’ve said a lot of names, but what about Temba Bavuma, who is the captain of South Africa’s white-ball team?
Bavuma, who had a base price of R850,000 (USD 50,000), did not sell at the auction because he had been hurt for a long time and was not in good shape. At the time of the auction on September 19, Bavuma had not played competitive cricket in more than three months due to an elbow injury that kept him out of South Africa’s entire tour of England. His T20I record was also not very good. He had played 25 games with an average score of 26.86 and a strike rate of 120.60, which was the most worrying number. Still, he said that he was sad that he wasn’t picked for the tournament. Then things went from bad to worse. Bavuma had a hard time getting back into the game. In a series against India, he was out for two ducks and three runs, and in five T20 World Cup games, he scored 70 runs at a strike rate of less than 100.
Since then, there have been questions about whether he should even be on South Africa’s T20 team as a batter, let alone be the captain. When you think about the fact that Bavuma is South Africa’s first black African captain and has led the team through some of its hardest times, the whole thing is just a mess.
But he wasn’t the only one who was forgotten. Some of the better-known South African players who will not play are Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen. Andile Phehlukwayo, a South African all-rounder, also didn’t sell at the auction, but Paarl Royals picked him up as a “wild card” player.
And the slights didn’t just happen to players, did they?
That is correct. A whole part of South Africa was left out of the SA20, and it is getting less and less important in high-profile cricket. The central area, which includes the province of Free State and the cities of Bloemfontein and Kimberley, does not have a SA20 team, so it will not host any games or take part in the event. The Bloemfontein-Kimberley team, called the Knights, was one of the six teams in South Africa’s former top tier, and the Free State provincial team plays in Division 1 of the current domestic structure. This is a pretty cold shoulder.
Even though the central region isn’t the most attractive part of the country, it has produced some of the best cricket players, like Allan Donald, and is home to some of the best cricket schools, like Grey College. We don’t know if that talent is being used in other ways or if it’s just being ignored. For now, the 3 million people who live in the Free State won’t get to see any of the glitz and glamour of the SA20, but they will get three World Cup Super League ODIs against England from January 27 to February 1.
Wait, there are ODIs in the middle of the SA20?
There are, and it couldn’t be helped. These are the games that were put off in November 2020, when Covid-19 broke out in both the South African and English camps and the beta variant was found. This caused England to leave the tournament early. South Africa has to win at least one of these games if they want to automatically qualify for the 2023 World Cup. This is because the broadcast rights for these games are worth a lot of money. South Africa is currently 11th in the table. They have only five matches left after giving up three ODIs in Australia to make room for…you guessed it…the SA20. To move up to eighth place, they have to win at least three of those five, and if they don’t, they’ll have to go to Zimbabwe in June for a qualifying event.
Wow, this is all getting pretty sad pretty fast. Can we talk about David Miller’s pink plasters on his nose?
If you haven’t seen it yet, you have no choice but to. The ads are nothing less than incredible. They show Quinton de Kock wearing a jeweled hat and wings, Shamsi making a phone call from a neon pink platform shoe, Parnell snorkeling in a bathtub, women’s captain Dane van Niekerk jamming in some glittery clothes, and David Miller’s unique nipple covers, which Janneman Malan, dressed as gold dust, calls “silly.” They are all set to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” What more could you want?
We’ll tell you! Like the Hundred, the SA20 will have some of South Africa’s best musicians performing on the grounds. Master KG (not KG Rabada), who is known for his hit song Jerusalema (you have to know the dance), and Sho Majozi, who performed her song John Cena on the Ellen show, will be the headliners. Get with the program. You already know you do.
And in the end, all of this is good for South African cricket, right?
We certainly hope so, because Cricket South Africa needs it like hell. The organization is in a lot of financial trouble, which is in part because Thabang Moroe was a wasteful CEO from 2017 to 2019. During that time, they also lost almost all of their sponsors. The national men’s team and all three domestic competitions still don’t have corporate sponsorship, and CSA has lost money for the last two years and will lose money again this year. Their cash reserves are so low (down from over a billion rand a few years ago to just tens of millions now) that some insiders say they won’t be able to last more than a year or two unless something fills the coffers soon, and this is supposed to be it.
But money isn’t the only reason. The South African cricket team’s morale is at an all-time low because the Test team did so badly in Australia and the white-ball teams are so far from winning the World Cup. The country needs a shot of fun and a place where players can move away from the boring style of play that has come to dominate the game and toward a more active and fun way of being.
How will we keep track of this tournament when the ILT20, BPL, and BBL are also going on?
We’re being asked! The only thing we can tell you will make your schedule even messier. The first Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is also going on at the same time as the New Zealand men’s series in India, the Ireland men’s series in Zimbabwe, the Pakistan women’s series in Australia and India, and the West Indies women’s series in South Africa. Enjoy.
Cricket
KL Rahul’s Fitness Update: Asia Cup Anticipation
Indian cricket player KL Rahul doing exercise
Get the latest KL Rahul Fitness Update as the Asia Cup draws near. With the tournament on the horizon, all eyes are on KL Rahul and his efforts to enhance his physical condition. This anticipation adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming Asia Cup, as fans eagerly await his progress and contributions on the field.
Unveiling the Remarkable Strides
“KL’s journey within our conditioning camp has yielded remarkable strides,” Dravid affirmed during an engaging conversation in Alur on a Tuesday. He further elaborated on Rahul’s intensive training regimen, highlighting the significant advancements achieved in alignment with the team’s envisioned trajectory. However, it’s important to underscore that Rahul’s participation will be limited to the earlier part of the tour, excluding the segment taking place in Kandy.
Amid this cricketing expedition, the responsibility of overseeing Rahul’s well-being in the upcoming days rests firmly on the shoulders of the National Cricket Academy (NCA). A comprehensive reassessment of his physical state is scheduled for September 4—a critical juncture that will shape the course of action moving forward. Encouragingly, Rahul’s journey so far is indicative of a promising future, marked by substantial progress and commendable breakthroughs.
Navigating Injury Setbacks and Selection Strategy
The meticulous composition of the Asia Cup team on August 21 took into careful consideration KL Rahul’s state of health. Ajit Agarkar, the discerning chairman of selectors, disclosed that Rahul had encountered a “minor niggle” after a complete recovery from a thigh injury sustained during the IPL 2023 season. While the medical team at the NCA expressed contentment with Rahul’s batting workload, concerns surfaced regarding his wicketkeeping prowess, particularly after he expressed fatigue following practice games.
Mastering the Art of Batting: Rahul’s Regimen
Intriguingly, Rahul’s batting prowess has showcased resilience during his practice sessions at the Alur nets. On the final day of India’s intensive six-day training camp, Rahul dedicated nearly 35 minutes to the crease, confronting an array of bowlers encompassing both pace and spin. While he refrained from partaking in bowling drills, his immersive practice was apparent.
Rahul’s training routine unveiled a multifaceted approach, with a special emphasis on handling spin bowling. Positioned as the No. 5 batsman, he skillfully employed footwork to counter leg spin, demonstrating meticulous shot selection. Moreover, his adaptability shone through as he engaged in full-blooded sweeps against the spin duo of R Sai Kishore and Manav Suthar, both known for their left-arm spin expertise.
Starting to feel like me again 🏃♂️🏟️ pic.twitter.com/8cECI7oRDZ
— K L Rahul (@klrahul) July 11, 2023
Strategizing for Excellence
As Rahul’s training regimen progressed, he navigated to the second net—a space dedicated to facing the new ball delivered by the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna. His unwavering attention was directed towards aligning his stance with the bounce, honing his ability to play straight, and judiciously utilizing pace to manipulate the trajectory of the ball. A post-session interaction with Coach Dravid and Virat Kohli underscored Rahul’s commitment to refining his skills.
Balancing Act: Skill Development and Preservation
Despite his fervent dedication, Rahul’s training routine has been carefully curated to prevent undue physical strain. The team management, vigilant about his well-being, has ensured that his wicketkeeping drills strike the right balance between intensity and preservation. His sessions, particularly those focused on lateral movement and spin, are calibrated to foster growth without compromising his physical resilience.
Rahul’s proactive participation extended to meaningful interactions with fellow cricketer Rishabh Pant. The duo shared insights and engaged in rehab and fitness drills alongside the team, underscoring the collaborative spirit within the Indian cricket fraternity.
A Glimpse of Squad Dynamics
As the cricketing spectacle approaches, India’s Asia Cup contingent boasts the presence of wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. Additionally, Sanju Samson has been designated as the team’s travelling substitute, poised to step in when needed.
In Conclusion: The Path Ahead
In conclusion, KL Rahul fitness update and contribute significantly to the upcoming stages of the Asia Cup resonates as a central narrative. His ongoing progress, meticulously overseen by the NCA physiotherapy team, holds the promise of an impactful return to the field. The cricketing community eagerly anticipates his presence in the Super 4s phase, envisioning his role as a cornerstone in India’s pursuit of glory.
Ashwin doesn’t think India has a problem at No.4 or No.5 now that Dhoni and Yuvraj have left the team. He said that there is no question about India’s opening order.
India’s middle-order in ODIs is always a topic of discussion. When they lost in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup, a big reason was that they didn’t have a good No. 4. Since Yuvraj Singh’s last ODI on June 30, 2017, India has tried more than 10 players in that position, but captain Rohit Sharma says they still haven’t found the right fit. The No. 5 spot is just the same. Even though the way teams think about batting in ODIs is changing quickly, flexible batting line-ups are now the rule. However, not having a bankable middle order has hurt many times. In the last couple of years, however, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul seem to have helped India find the right mix.
Ravichandran Ashwin says that if both Iyer and Rahul are ready to play, there should be no question about India’s No. 4 and No. 5 in the Asia Cup and World Cup. He is correct. Rahul and Iyer have the best numbers of any middle-order openers India has tried since the 2019 World Cup.
Ashwin even said that Rahul, who has scored 742 runs at a remarkable average of 53 and a striking strike rate of 99.33 since taking on the new role of keeping wickets and batting at No.5, has filled the middle-order spot with “expertise” since MS Dhoni and Yuvraj retired.
“India had been looking for a candidate for Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni since they left the team. Rahul has done a good job in that role. He will always bat at No. 5 and keep wickets for us,” Ashwin wrote on his YouTube account.
Ashwin, who didn’t make it to the Asia Cup, praised Rahul for taking over as keeper-batsman after Rishabh Pant got hurt.
“Before Pant got hurt, Rahul was next in line. Now that Pant is out, Ishan Kishan is the second goal, and he has jumped at the chance. Rahul has a minor injury, but he should be fine for the first game. If he isn’t, we have a travelling team of 18 people in Sanju Samson,” Ashwin said.
“India’s No.4 should not be up for debate”: Ashwin
Shreyas Iyer is similar. Iyer got 805 runs before he hurt his back again and again. His average was 47.35, and his strike rate was 94.37. The Mumbai right-hander’s ability to hit big shots against all types of spinners makes him an ideal No.4 in subcontinent conditions. He also has a double game. Iyer has shown that he can handle the pressure if a couple of wickets fall early and then use it to his advantage. If he comes in to bat after a good start, he can beat the spinners right away.
“Shreyas Iyer is just as important to this team as KL Rahul. He is a steady No.4 for India and one of their best players against spin. Whenever he has played at 4, he has been a key part of their success. “If he is fully fit to play, there shouldn’t be any debate about the No. 4 spot,” Ashwin said on his YouTube account when talking about India’s Asia Cup team.
Ajit Agarkar, the head of selectors for the BCCI, put to rest any doubts about Iyer’s health. He also said that Rahul has a new injury and might not play in India’s Asia Cup opener against Pakistan. Rahul and Iyer’s good health will be the most important thing for India in the Asia Cup and World Cup, not where they play in the XI. Ashwin has said that if Rahul and Iyer are both healthy, they will play at No. 4 and No. 5 respectively.
India’s 2023 Asia Cup Squad
September marks the start of the next Asia Cup competition. The Asian Cricket Council oversees this prestigious competition. There had been talk of Pakistan hosting the competition, but now it appears that plans have changed. When the ACC announces the final host and schedule, that will be it. There will be 13 games played in this major competition, according to the data.
Many cricket followers can’t wait for this massive ACC-run competition. Cricket fans in India are eager to learn about their team’s Asia Cup 2023 roster. The team for the forthcoming competition has not been announced as of yet.
Nonetheless, the following players will likely be included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023: KL Rahul, Venkatesh Iyer, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal, Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan, Arshdeep Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad, etc.
List of 2023 Asia Cup Participants
Six teams will compete in the 2023 Asia Cup, according to reports. There will be one-day matches in this competition. Sri Lanka won this prestigious competition in 2022 and is the current holder of the title.
The roster of participating players in the Asia Cup will be made public shortly.
1. Indian Squad: KL Rahul, Ravichandran Ashwin, Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
💬 "Hopefully Sharma and Kohli can roll some arm over in the World Cup" 😃#TeamIndia captain Rohit Sharma at his inimitable best! 👌#AsiaCup2023 | @imRo45 pic.twitter.com/v1KKvOLcnq
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 21, 2023
2. Pakistan Squad: Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan, Khushdil Shah, Naseem Shah, Iftikhar Ahmed, etc. are all members of the Pakistan Squad. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
3.Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Saifuddin, Ebadot Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Parvez Hossain Emon, Anamul Haque, Mahedi Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Naim, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Sabbir Rahman, Afif Hossain, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
4.Afghanistan Squad : Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Fareed Ahmad, Usman Ghani, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Noor Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim, Zadran, Afsar Zazai. Soon, we shall get more specifics about the actual team.
5.Sri Lanka Squad : Asitha Fernando, Nuwanidu Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Praveen Jayawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan, Madushanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Dasun Shanaka, Mahesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Jeffrey Vandersay, etc. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
6.Nepal Squad : Aarif Sheikh and Aasif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane and Karna KC and Gulsan Jha and Rohit Paudel and Bhim Sharki and so on. The exact roster will be described in greater depth in the near future.
Schedule for the 2023 Asia Cup
The ACC will soon announce the dates of the upcoming matches. In September, you may watch this fascinating and important competition. Hong Kong qualified for the Asia Cup in the previous tournament. Nepal, however, beat out the United Arab Emirates in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup to earn entry to this year’s tournament.
To see how well this young team does in such a major competition would be thrilling. This tournament features a lot of big names and big players. The 2019 Asia Cup will include 13 total games between the six participating teams (split into two groups). They’ll be competing for the title of Asia Cup 2023 champion.
2023 India Asia Cup Team Captain
There has been no announcement made regarding who will lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. However, Rohit Sharma is expected to lead the Indian team at the upcoming Asia Cup in 2023. In the ongoing WCC Finals, India is being captained by Rohit Sharma.
He is undoubtedly a top-tier cricket player. As a result, many people expect Rohit Sharma to lead the Indian team at the 2023 Asia Cup. When India last competed in the ACC event, Rohit led the team as captain.
KL Rahul’s Fitness Update: Asia Cup Anticipation
Rubiales Scandal: Soccer’s Integrity Unveiled
Ashwin’s Insight : Cricket’s Middle-Order Revolution
Wimbledon 2022: Andy Murray knocked out by John Isner despite late fightback
South Africa’s World Cup dreams have taken a major hit.
