In a bid to revive domestic cricket, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced new structures for next season.
The six franchises will again contest the professional competitions while all 15 affiliates will be involved in the provincial competitions.
The new structures, as recommended by the CSA Cricket Committee, were approved at a joint meeting of the CSA Members’ Council and the CSA Board of Directors yesterday.
Of the changed structures, acting CSA CEO Jacques Faul says: “I am sure that they will once again provide highly-competitive cricket at all levels and we are also looking forward to the launch of new products in the provincial 40-over knockout competition and the T20 Super Club Cup that will provide further opportunities at provincial, U19, university and club level.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNewsThe @LionsCricketSA and @DolphinsCricket have been crowned franchise champions for the 2019/20 season. The Lions retain the 4-Day Domestic Series trophy & the Dolphins are @Momentum_za One-Day Cup champions. READ HERE: https://t.co/83xnXGVD9I pic.twitter.com/ACJ9UwwUBv
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
As for franchise cricket, the four-day competition will consist of two groups of three teams each that will play home and away fixtures against the other teams in their group and a single round against the teams in the other group.
This will give each franchise a minimum of seven matches while the two group winners will have an eighth game when they play-off for the title.
The same format will apply for the 1Day Cup.
Meanwhile, the Lions (4-Day) and Dolphins (1-Day) have been crowned franchise champions for the 2019/20 season.
The business end of the season was halted by the coronavirus that caused the cancellation of the knockout rounds of the 1Day Cup as well as the final two rounds of the 4-Day Domestic Series.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSAnews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CSAnewsCSA announces Domestic Playing Structures for 2020/21 season.
Read all about it here: https://t.co/UMVl8WZkDn pic.twitter.com/54OrQq5Ub5
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
CSA’s decision-makers endorsed the recommendation of interim Director, Graeme Smith, that tournament titles will be awarded in accordance with log standings.