CSA is considering two proposals on the restructuring of South African domestic men’s cricket.
This is according to CSA’s Financial Sustainability Report, which News24 has seen.
OPTION 1
– 8 professional domestic teams
– 16 provincial teams below the professional structure
– Each professional team will be allocated 18 contracted players
– 144 contracted players in total
– 10 four-day matches per team
– Another 10 white-ball matches (50-over and T20 competitions)
– Expected savings for CSA: R37-million
OPTION 2
– 10 professional domestic teams.
– 16 provincial teams below the professional structure
– Each professional team will be allocated 16 contracted players
– 160 contracted players in total
– 9 matches per team in each all format
– Expected savings for CSA: R17-million
CSA’s current system, which costs the organisation R222-million per season to keep going, consists of 15 professional provincial teams, with eight in Division 1 and seven in Division 2, and a total of 209 contracted players.
It replaced the six-team franchise system in the 2021-22 season.
“Both proposals reflect a position of less professional players playing more, which is fundamental to the principle of ensuring a more cost-effective domestic structure,” the report stated.
“The proposals further result in the cost base of domestic cricket being more sustainable, although the introduction of two more professional teams has a material financial impact compared to the eight-team option.
“With financial sustainability at the core of this review, the preference is for the eight-team option due to the financial benefit compared to the current structure, together with the increase in the quantity of competitive cricket across all three formats.”
News24 understands CSA will meet on 10 March to discuss the matter.
Photo: Philip Maeta/Gallo Images
