The removal of Haroon Lorgat as CEO of Cricket South Africa has paved the way for a TV deal that will save the Global League T20 tournament.

But it has come at a cost, which will add to the substantial start-up investment.

The acting CEO, Thabang Moroe, is quoted in the Sunday Times as  saying: SuperSport will be coming on board for the tournament. It’s just a matter of fixing a few granular details.’

But, he added: ‘We need to help them absorb some costs to help them get going, because it is so late. We both realise the need to get going and the question is how best we work together.’

The tournament, featuring top Proteas players and such international illuminaries as Chris Gayle, Keven Pietersen and Lasith Malinga, is set to start on 3 Nov and will feature eight very expensive franchises playing 57 games in 44 days.

Broadcast rights were a major point of dispute and were seen as absolutely vital to the success of the tournament.

SuperSport argued that they had the rights to cricket played in South Africa. Lorgat, however, entrusted a company called Ortus Sport and Entertainment with the sole agency of selling the tournament broadcast rights, saying the T20GL rights are not covered by the existing contract with SuperSport and are thus up for sale.

SuperSport’s legal and commercial experts reportedly walked out of a meeting with Ortus after hearing the latter’s demands.

‘It’s not going to be a win for CSA and a loss for SuperSport,’ said Moroe. ‘We have to share the wins and the losses as well.’

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