The much-anticipated SA20 will blast off with a Western Cape derby between MI Cape Town and the Paarl Royals at Newlands on 10 January.
The full match schedule of 33 matches to be played at six venues across the country was announced on Tuesday.
MI Cape Town’s star-studded line-up includes Proteas spearhead Kagiso Rabada, Afghanistan spin maestro Rashid Khan, England’s six-hitting specialist Liam Livingstone, and South Africa’s teenage sensation Dewald Brevis.
The Royals have assembled an equal galaxy of stars that is headlined by England white-ball captain Jos Buttler, along with his 2019 World Cup-winning teammates Jason Roy and Eoin Morgan. They will be joined by Proteas trio David Miller, Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi, who are under the guidance of former Proteas all-rounder JP Duminy as head coach.
The opening game, along with the remaining 32 matches, will all be broadcast exclusively live on SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa and Viacom18 Sports to India’s cricket-loving and passionate fanbase.
“Releasing fixtures for the opening season is a milestone for us all at SA20,” said league commissioner Graeme Smith. “It’s all getting very real, we certainly can’t wait to watch the world’s best go head-to-head. Fans can look forward to the blockbuster schedule kicking off with the popular local derby between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals on 10 January.
“Fans will be able to watch the best local and international T20 stars live in action at prime viewing times for the afternoon and evening matches. This is also an ideal broadcasting slot ensuring viewers around the world can also keep up with the enthralling entertainment.”
The action is relentless with the SA20 caravan moving around the country for two weeks, with at least one game every single day until 24 January. Each team will play five home and five away matches, with fans finally getting a taste of what the IPL-owned teams will be bringing to the local flavour.
Among these matches is five visits to St George’s Park where the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and their 12th man, the famous brass band, will ensure every visit to Gqeberha is a memorable one.
The first Highveld derby between the Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals is set for the Wanderers on 17 January.
The JSK squad is brimmed with speed merchants Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, West Indian Alzarri Joseph and England’s George Garton who are all set to steam in at the Bullring. The Capitals will be equally up to the challenge, with Proteas speedsters Anrich Nortje and Wayne Parnell leading alongside Ireland’s Josh Little.
The league will take a break for the three-match ODI between the Proteas and England. The action resumes at Kingsmead for the clash between hosts Durban’s Super Giants and MI Cape Town on 2 February.
Lance Klusener’s men will look to make their home-ground advantage count as this will be the first of only two matches played at Kingsmead in the second half of the schedule with the remainder of the games all taking place at Wanderers and SuperSport Park in Centurion due to the Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup to be hosted in South Africa in February.
The final will be staged at the Wanderers on 11 February.
