THE Africa T20 Cup will hosts three African sides to play against the various provinces in August.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) launched the third edition of the Africa T20 Cup competition that will see Eastern Province start their title defence in a tough pool that also includes North West, Northerns and Gauteng.
The line-ups are as follows:
Pool A: Sahara Park Willowmoore, August 25 to 27: Easterns, Western Province, SWD, Namibia
Pool B: Senwes Park, September 1 to 3: North West, Northerns, Gauteng, Eastern Province
Pool C: Mangaung Oval, September 9 to 11: Free State, KwaZulu-Natal Inland, Zimbabwe, Boland
Pool D: Diamond Oval, September 15 to 17: Northern Cape, KZN, Kenya, Border.
The format is the same as in the previous two editions, with the 12 CSA provincial associates being joined by KwaZulu-Natal Inland and three African nations – Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya.
This year sees the tournament return to the inland stadia, with Sahara Park Willowmoore (Easterns), Senwes Park (North West), Mangaung Oval (Free State) and Diamond Oval (Northern Cape) being the host venues.
One change sees the Diamond Oval being pre-allocated the semi-finals, and final weekend as the other three venues will be busy preparing to host international matches during the Bangladesh tour that starts in October.
“The Africa Cup is finding a coveted place in our domestic season and once again it will launch the 2017/18 season,” said CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, “and if past experiences are anything to go by we can again look forward to highly entertaining and competitive cricket.
“We wanted this competition to bridge the gap between senior provincial and franchise cricket and to aid the development of cricket on the African continent. I believe we are achieving both aims.
“This tournament has become an important part of our development pipeline. Heinrich Klaasen, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi and Andile Phehlukwayo all played in the inaugural Africa T20 Cup in 2015 and have gone on to represent the Standard Bank Proteas this past season.
“I would like to thank Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya for once again accepting our invitations to participate in this tournament,” said Lorgat.
The semi-finals and final for pool winners will be played at the Diamond Oval on the weekend of September 24 to 25.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Alberton Record: 060 644 5264 Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
