Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, who owns Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, was named owner of the Cape Town franchise of Cricket South Africa’s upcoming T20 league, according to Gaurav Laghate of the ECONOMIC TIMES. IPL side Delhi Daredevils owner GMR Sports also picked up a Johannesburg franchise in the T20 Global League. CSA announced the eight team owners at The Bulgari in London. Other team owners include Rana Fawad (Durban), owner of Qatar Lubricants Company, who also owns Lahore Qalandars franchise of Pakistan Super League; Javed Afridi (Benoni), a Pakistani business exec and the owner of Pakistan Super League team Peshawar Zalmi; Dubai-based businessman Ajay Sethi (Port Elizabeth), the chair of Channel 2 Group; Mustaq Enus-Brey (Stellenbosch), the co-founder of Brimstone Investment Corporation; Hong Kong-based businessman Sushil Kumar (Bloemfontein); and an SA Consortium (Pretoria) led by Osman Osman (ECONOMIC TIMES, 6/19). CRICKET NEXT reported the Cape Town franchise will be Khan's third team in a T20 cricket league after Kolkata Knight Riders and Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. The competition, "hoping to emulate the success" of competitions such as the IPL and Australia's Big Bash League, is set to start in November, with the final to be played on Dec. 16 (CRICKET NEXT, 6/19). REUTERS' Nick Said reported teams will be hosted in eight centers around South Africa -- Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Stellenbosch and Benoni. Marquee players already signed include former England batsman Kevin Pietersen, current England limited overs players Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy, and ex-internationals Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) and Chris Gayle (West Indies). Almost 400 players from 10 countries "have confirmed their interest in being part of the draft" (REUTERS, 6/19). ESPN.com's Firdose Moonda reported despite no Indian players being available for the tournament, its overlap with the Bangladesh Premier League, the chances of Australian players "being scant given the clash with their summer" and the England & Wales Cricket Board's refusal for Morgan and Roy to attend the launch, CSA President Chris Nenzani "was hopeful the competition would receive global support." Nenzani: "We thank all other cricket boards and we hope that they will support this venture in the manner that we have helped and supported their leagues. We hope they will help us to make it a success" (ESPN.com, 6/19).
