The T10 League in Abu Dhabi is scheduled for 23 November to 2 December 2018. South Africa’s new T20 league will run from 9 November to 16 December 2018. The former will prevent several big stars from playing in the entire latter.
Fans certainly won’t see the following players during the key middle chunk of the SA T20 league.
Big-hitting West Indian Chris Gayle will be playing for the Kerala Kings. The T10 League reigning champions will enjoy the services of arguably the greatest T20 batsman ever. Gayle has represented the Lions and, almost, the Dolphins in South African domestic cricket. Perhaps he’ll add a third team, before or after the United Arab Emirates stint.
Participation in the entire SA T20 league could have afforded former Proteas star Morne Morkel an uninterrupted homecoming, of sorts, after international retirement and Surrey success earlier this year. Instead, the lanky pace ace has been signed by the Bengal Tigers. The door will remain open, though, especially if his beloved Titans secure an SA T20 league franchise.
England fast bowler Tymal Mills would have been a significant full-time resource to any SA T20 league franchise. Whether he will be around for the opening or closing weeks of the tournament remains to be seen, but characteristic ability to extract great pace and carry from dull tracks will be on display for the Rajputs in the UAE, regardless.
The multi-talented Colin Ingram has become a veritable T20 journeyman since ending a promising international career. He will be playing for the Pakhtoons, adding to recent stints with the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League and Glamorgan in England’s T20 Blast. He, too, has played for the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League and Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash League.
Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is becoming somewhat of a household cricketing name around the world. A prolonged period in South African conditions would have truly tested his talent. However, it will be punctuated by 10 days with the Maratha Arabians, if he even makes an early or belated appearance in the SA T20 league at all.
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