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Graeme Smith endorses IPL model for SA20, seeking financial stability and player development

Former skipper Graeme Smith, now commissioner of South Africa’s T20 league, SA20, has openly acknowledged the IPL’s success in producing well-rounded talents and expressed his desire to replicate it on home soil.

There’s no denying the IPL’s impact on developing all-format stars. The high-octane league provides a unique platform for young talents to rub shoulders with seasoned internationals, both Indian and overseas. This exposure to diverse playing styles, pressure situations, and innovative tactics accelerates their cricketing evolution. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Rishabh Pant are shining examples, seamlessly transitioning from IPL stardom to international acclaim across formats.

Smith expressed his opinion that the SA20 will serve as a breeding ground for versatile cricketers who can excel in all formats, ensuring South Africa’s competitiveness in multi-team tournaments like World Cups and Test matches. “We want to follow the IPL in producing all-format players. We would love to see our national team competing in World Cups playing Test matches all around the world and having a robust T20 league as well. Indian Cricket is so blessed that they have so much talent,”, Smith said.

“I want Test Cricket to be strong but…”

While acknowledging South Africa’s recent struggles in Test cricket and his fondness for the format, Smith emphasized the need for a solution that ensures the financial sustainability of both Test and T20 cricket in the region. He believes the SA20 league could play a key role in attracting funding and promoting the development of versatile players who can excel in both formats.

“I love Test Cricket and I want Test Cricket to be strong but it is probably a 6 or 7-nation format and T20 is for growth. It is introducing new players, new fans and new markets to the game. South African cricket needs to bring gravitas to its product and keep cricket in this region strong. It hurts. We haven’t played good Test Cricket for long. We have some quality players but no one is averaging above 40 while when we played the average of six players was about close to 50,” he added.