Defending champions, Northerns, will start their bid to retain their title in Group B of the Africa Cup T20 competition to be played at Oudtshoorn’s Recreation Ground in September.
They will be up against hosts, SWD, Northern Cape and one of the three continental African teams, Kenya.
Pietermaritzburg, Oudtshoorn, East London and Paarl will be the venues for the four groups. The venue for the finals weekend will be decided at the end of the Group Stage.
The second edition of the Africa T20 will take place over four consecutive weekends, from September 2 to September 25, culminating in the finals weekend scheduled for October 30 to November 1.
This year the competition is scheduled at the coastal venues as listed below with the home province heading up the pools.
The draw is as follows:
Pool A – KZN Inland, Namibia, Western Province, North West, Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg: September 2 to 4.
Pool B – South Western Districts, Northerns, Northern Cape, Kenya, Recreation Ground, Oudtshoorn: September 9 to 11.
Pool C – Border, Easterns, Free State, Zimbabwe, Buffalo Park Cricket Ground, East London: September 16 to 18
Pool D – Boland, KZN, Eastern Province, Gauteng, Boland Park, Paarl: September 23 to 25.
The White Kookaburra Turf Ball will be utilised for the entire tournament.
The competing teams will be playing for prize money of R300 000 going to the winners.
All affiliates are required to include at least two Franchise players in their respective squads and no more than four can play in any one match. In addition, all squads must include two u.21 players who have yet to play franchise cricket.
In a change from last season, two matches each will be played on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The exception is the finals weekend which will be completed on the Saturday to avoid a clash with the Momentum ODI Series between the Proteas and Australia.
CSA will present all players with a special tournament cap as part of the organisation’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Credit – CSA
