The SA20 and CSA have launched a Schools SA20 tournament that is designed to discover and nurture cricket talent among girls and boys across South Africa.

This national competition will run from September 2024 to March 2025, with schools from all 16 provinces competing for the title of Schools SA20 champions.

Over 370 boys’ school teams and more than 200 girls’ school teams will participate, with over 1,000 matches being played.

The girls’ competition will also be a key part of the Proteas’ U19 team’s preparation for the U19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia in 2025.

The competition will be conducted in three phases:

Phase 1: Provincial competitions (September-November 2024)
Phase 2: Regional playoffs (January-February 2025)
Phase 3: National finals (13-15 March, 2025)

“Schools SA20 is more than just a competition; it has the potential to significantly contribute to our cricketing future,” said Graeme Smith, SA20 league commissioner.

“There are a number of current Protea men and women who made their mark at a schools level; I can’t wait to see the next generation entertaining and showcasing their skills on this global stage and no doubt the next teenage cricket sensation will announce themselves to the world out of this competition.”

The Schools SA20 will be showcased on a global platform thanks to a partnership with SuperSport Schools, with over 200 matches set to be live-streamed and broadcast across various media platforms.