{"id":236425,"date":"2025-02-11T11:34:13","date_gmt":"2025-02-11T11:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/even-ipl-took-time-to-grow-no-immediate-expansion-plans-but-sa20-commissioner-graeme-smith-encouraged-by-positive-response-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T11:34:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T11:34:13","slug":"even-ipl-took-time-to-grow-no-immediate-expansion-plans-but-sa20-commissioner-graeme-smith-encouraged-by-positive-response-cricket-news-the-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/11\/even-ipl-took-time-to-grow-no-immediate-expansion-plans-but-sa20-commissioner-graeme-smith-encouraged-by-positive-response-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Even IPL took time to grow …’: No immediate expansion plans but SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith encouraged by positive response | Cricket News – The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Graeme Smith (Image credit: SA20)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NEW DELHI: The third season of SA20 concluded with MI Cape Town securing their maiden title at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The franchise, which had been the most consistent throughout the season, topped the league table with seven wins from 10 matches, including one no-result, before dethroning two-time defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final.
As the tournament wrapped up another successful edition, SA20 commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith<\/a> addressed the media, reflecting on the league\u2019s progress and its future.
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While acknowledging the increasing calls for expansion, Smith made it clear that there are no immediate plans to add new teams, at least for the next two years.
“Look, I take it as a positive that people want us to grow and add more franchises,\u201d Smith said, replying to TimesofIndia.com’s query during an online media interaction. “I felt a lot more pressure from fans this year to expand. We are fortunate that we built a product that attracts interest, and people want to be involved in SA20.” <\/p>\n

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What\u2019s the reason behind South African cricket’s renaissance? SA20\u2019s Graeme Smith answers<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Despite this demand, Smith reaffirmed SA20’s commitment to its six existing franchises, emphasising that expansion will only be considered after the five-year mark. “We committed to the six franchises who originally invested in SA20. We told them we would give them five years before considering adding new teams. There are a few factors we need to assess before expansion. Even the IPL<\/a> took time to grow, and we need to ensure we have the right foundation in place before making that decision.”
One of the key considerations, Smith explained, is ensuring a strong talent pool before increasing the number of teams. “Building up the number of outstanding cricketers in South Africa is important,” he said. “One thing that separates us from other leagues is the competitiveness. When you talk to players, they say that outside the IPL, SA20 is one of the toughest tournaments to play in. Every team has multiple match-winners. We saw how that depth benefited Indian cricket when the IPL expanded. For us, it’s about assessing when the time is right, but for now, there won’t be any expansion for the first five years.” <\/p>\n

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AB de Villiers answers why SA20 survived while other South Africa T20 leagues failed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

While expansion is not on the immediate agenda, SA20 has made massive strides in commercial success and viewership growth. Smith revealed that ticket sales and TV viewership numbers have significantly increased compared to previous seasons. “Early data suggests that we sold close to 400,000 tickets, and our viewership is looking very strong,” he said. “Last year, our economic impact study showed we brought 4 billion rand to the economy and created 8,500 jobs. With all the commercial growth, new sponsorships, and long-term broadcast deals in India, South Africa, the UK, and other global markets, we are in a strong position.”
Smith also highlighted the league’s growing popularity among Indian fans. “I got a call from someone in India who said SA20 matches were being shown across airports. That’s incredible for us. We love the Indian fans, and we hope they love the cricket they’re seeing,” he added.
With commercial success soaring and fan interest at an all-time high, SA20 continues to strengthen its position among global T20 leagues. While expansion is off the table for now, the rising demand from fans suggests that when the time is right, SA20 will be ready to grow even further.<\/div>\n