"Difficult for me to not come across like I'm bad-mouthing them" - Former South Africa captain lambasts ILT20 for not investing in local talent

Former South Africa captain and SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith criticized the International League T20 (ILT20 ) for banking almost entirely on overseas talent, and not utilizing local players enough to assist the cricket's growth in the country.

The SA20 and the ILT20 have been clashing from January to February since 2023, and have been embroiled in the race to become the second-most prolific franchise-based league behind the IPL.

South Africa's franchise-based tournament has attracted controversy in the past, with the Proteas opting to forfeit bilateral affairs in the process. However, it has also led to the emergence of several players who are part of the T20I side's pipeline at the moment.

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In a structure similar to the majority of the T20 leagues around the world, SA20 franchises are allowed to field four overseas players in the playing XI. Thus the playing Xi largely comprises of local players.

The ICC implemented an overseas players cap for T20 leagues but associate nations' franchise tournaments like the ILT20 and the Major League Cricket (MLC) were exempted from this rule.

"We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We're a South African league, with a majority of South African players and our ultimate goal is to benefit South African players," Graeme Smith said during the captain's day press conference (via ESPN Cricinfo).

"We've been built up against ILT20, so it's very difficult for me to not come across like I'm bad-mouthing them but I do feel like a league like that is not good for the game; that there's that many international players required to build a team; there's no investment back into local cricket. That is a challenge for the world game and something that needs to be managed going forward," he added.

ILT20's guidelines allow franchises to name up to nine overseas players in the playing XI. The teams must also ensure that four local players are included in their roster.

In the SA20, squads need to have 11 local players in the 19-member squad, out of which one has to be a rookie - a player under the age of 22, who has never played in the tournament before.

"We are now being recognized as one of the biggest leagues outside the IPL" - South Africa legend Graeme Smith

While the IPL remains lonely at the top with a dedicated window in the FTP and an ability to attract the biggest stars with a foundation of over 15 years, the race is wide open for the second spot on the podium.

The likes of BBL, CPL, PSL, and the BPL have not been able to capture the attention of the masses, which is where SA20 hopes to jump in. All six teams of the competition are sister franchises of established sides in the IPL.

"What we have focused on is building the SA20 to the point where we are now being recognized as one of the biggest leagues outside the IPL. That's important for us and that's the feedback we're getting. And what we've seen from a player group is that this is where players want to play because it's competitive, there's good crowds, the standard of cricket is good and this is the place to come and challenge yourself," Smith added.

The third edition of the SA20 is scheduled to begin on January 9 with a clash between defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and MI Cape Town in Gqeberha.

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