AB de Villiers expressed delight over CSA’s announcement on launching a T20 Global league in South Africa.

The announcement of the global tender for the new #T20 Global League comes after CSA President, Chris Nenzani, and Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, informed the ICC and Member nations attending the ICC meetings in Dubai last week.

A tender was issued worldwide on Saturday to see who would potentially be interested in buying a franchise. The deadline for ‘Expressions of Interest’ is on Friday, 3 March. Read more here.

AB de Villiers, speaking to the media after SA’s demolition job of Sri Lanka in the pink day match at the Wanderers on Saturday, was enthusiastic about CSA’s decision to introduce the new league.

‘I’m so excited about it, it’s really great. Lots of credit should go to CSA for coming up with that,’ said De Villiers. 

‘It’s vital for our cricket. It will motivate our youngsters to stick around and fight through to play for SA. The domestic tournament is going to do wonders for our cricket.’

With the worldwide success of tournaments such as the Big Bash and the IPL, CSA will have the chance to compete on a global scale by drawing in big crowds and financial investments into South Africa’s domestic cricket. De Villiers is positive that the tournament has the potential to rival the IPL.

‘It can definitely come up to an IPL standard when it comes to entertainment, quality of cricket and with some of the names that I heard that are interested in coming over, I think it’s going to be a great spectacle.’