It was a joyous day for North West Cricket on Monday, 8 March as they claimed a spot in division 1 of the new Cricket South Africa domestic structure.
North West will join Boland, Free State, Gauteng Lions, KZN Coastal, Notherns, Western Cape and Eastern Province from the 2021/22 season.
Unions had to present a detailed strategic plan to the CSA interim board based on various factors.
North West Cricket ticked the necessary boxes and will now together with Boland and the former six franchises form a new top 8 structure for the next season.
Seven other unions will form part of division 2. Border, Easterns, KwaZulu-Natal Inland, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and South Western Districts are in division 2.
Teams will stay the same for the next two years before a promotion/relegation system will commence. This is exciting as it will provide teams in division 1 with greater sponsorship opportunities. It also gives division 2 teams an opportunity to enter division 1 which is a more lucrative and exposure friendly atmosphere.
Division 1 teams will play in a four day, one day, and T20 MSL league with a T20 knockout tournament between both division 1 and 2 teams.
It is a well deserved promotion to the big stage for NW Cricket who can now take on the best of the best next season.
Exciting times lay ahead for cricket in Potchefstroom.
