Dubai: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has come under intense attack from the owners of the their T20 Global League who had acquired teams after successful bids last year. The board, in a recent surprise move, decided to drop the original franchise owners and announce plans for a new T20 event in November-December this year.
The T20 Global League, with eight privately owned teams was launched in June, 2017 but later postponed till November 2018 due to lack of a broadcast deal and title sponsors.
The eight teams were Benoni Zalmi, Bloem City Blazers, Cape Town Knight Riders, Durban Qalandars, Jo’Burg Giants, Nelson Mandela Bay Stars, Pretoria Mavericks and Stellenbosch.
Speaking to Gulf News, Ajay Sethi, the Dubai-based owner of Nelson Mandela team said: “The decision by the Cricket South Africa is shocking. We will appeal to South African government to intervene as their decision is a huge embarrassment to their country. To put the owners out of the league is totally unethical and I don’t think any sports federation will do such a thing in any part of the world.”
CSA refunded the deposits of the owners last Saturday. “By returning our refund, CSA cannot take our right back as owners,” added Sethi, whose team was to represent City of Port Elizabeth with Imran Tahir as their marquee player.
“We had signed up coaches and players. This kind of behaviour is a wrong message to foreign investors in any business field. Our rights remain as owners,” said Sethi.
Durban Qalandars, owned by Rana Fawad, who also owns Lahore Qalandars team that plays in the Pakistan Super League, has revealed that they don’t want their money back but want to play in whatever event that replaces the T20 Global League.
“We now feel that the South African body terminated the services of CEO Haroon Lorgat to manipulate the process. This is totally unethical and no federation will do that in any part of the world,” said Sethi.
“Global T20 is now a victim of personal egos. Agendas of these few individuals has made all reputed owners suffer the damages, loses as well as ruined the reputation. Remember no league can make money without owners and what CSA has done is unethical.”
