South Africa will host the first "Africa T20 Cup as a curtain raiser to the domestic season," according to Firdose Moonda of ESPN. In the 16-team event, 13 South African provincial sides will compete with Zimbabwe, Namibia and Kenya. The tournament will run for a month from Sept. 4-Oct. 4. The dates coincide with the window that the Champions League T20 "would have been played in, further fueling speculation that the tournament will be cancelled." Cricket South Africa was "one of the three shareholders in the CLT20 and its franchises have the most to lose from its culling." The Africa T20 Cup "may not immediately solve" a possible financial quandary, but it could have "some spin-off benefits particularly if it attracts sponsorship" (ESPN, 4/21). The PTI reported CSA said that the tournament "will be a World Cup-style competition, consisting of four pools of four teams each with the winners of each pool advancing to the semi-finals and eventually to the final." Venues for the matches will be "spread across several South African provincial stadiums." CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat said, "This tournament is an exciting new concept for our cricket." CSA also announced the appointment of former Proteas player Makhaya Ntini as the Africa T20 Cup Ambassador (PTI, 4/21). SUPERSPORT reported Easterns (Sahara Willowmoore Park), North West (Senwes Park), Griquas (Diamond Oval) and Free State (Mangaung Oval) "will be the venues for the four pool matches and some of these venues will also host the semifinal and final depending on which teams advance" (SUPERSPORT, 4/21).
