The new Mzansi Super League (MSL) launches this weekend and I hope South African cricketers hit it out of the park.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how this competition can lift our game. And by the growing hype, the MSL may just be the thing to inject some new life into the domestic game.
I was looking forward to some fresh faces proving that we have a next generation of Proteas superstars to take over the mantles of Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.
What would have been awesome is to see a new kid on the block make such an impact that coach Ottis Gibson has to rethink his plans for the World Cup in May.
However, looking at the squad lists I’ve noticed very few U19 talents.
This is a damn shame. And completely reckless and pointless.
Some exposure for the younger players should have been a crucial point at the conception stage of the MSL.
I’m not sure that any good will come from this tournament for SA cricket unless they change some of the player parameters like in the IPL.
We need a quota of younger players somewhere in the domestic game.
Instead, we’ll get some middle-of-road T20 hacks mixing it up with some Proteas, past and present, with a sprinkle of internationals looking for a payday.
Maybe the only way to redeem this competition is if AB de Villiers continues with the form that saw him smash 93 off 31 in a warm-up game for the Tshwane Spartans.
If the retired superstar batsman is moering the ball like that, then perhaps the 33-year-old could be persuaded to return to the Proteas.
Having Mr 360 back for the World Cup would definitely make it worth the MSL’s while since not much is being done to find our future stars.