Broadcaster SuperSport withdrew from an equity partnership with Cricket South Africa, "leaving the future of a new Twenty20 tournament in doubt again," according to CRICKET365. The T20 Global League was postponed to November after the "controversial departure" of former CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat. CSA then announced plans to partner with SuperSport in a "new-look, six-franchise competition." The "revamped version" does not allow for private ownership, which the T20 Global League did, leaving franchise owners like the Pretoria Mavericks' Hiren Bhanu, Durban Qalandars' Sameen Rana, Nelson Mandela Bay Stars' Ajay Sethi and others "peeved." SuperSport was going to have a 49% share in the competition, but has since revealed "discussions for an agreement formally ended late last month." It, however, remains "interested in broadcasting the tournament" (CRICKET365, 8/23). IOL's Stuart Hess reported CSA is "continuing to forge ahead with establishing its T20 tournament." CSA was "still considering bids from at least 10 of its provincial affiliates on Wednesday," hoping to finalize the process that will determine which venues will host the six franchises for the new competition due to start in the second week of November (IOL, 8/22).
