SA20 Season 3 to Kick Off in Gqeberha, Wanderers to Host Final

The highly anticipated third season of the SA20 cricket tournament is set to kick off on January 9, 2023, with defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape hosting MI Cape Town at St George's Park in Gqeberha. The tournament will feature 30 league matches, followed by playoffs and a final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

St George's Park will also host the first qualifier, which will determine the team that automatically advances to the final. The Wanderers, which hosted the inaugural SA20 final, will once again host the championship match. The reason for the switch back to Johannesburg is unclear, but it may be related to the Wanderers' larger capacity, accommodating over 30,000 spectators.

SuperSport Park in Centurion will host the eliminator and second qualifier on consecutive days, marking the first time the playoffs will be held in Centurion. Kingsmead in Durban and Boland Park in Paarl are the only two venues that have yet to host any of the marquee matches.

The SA20 will follow the same format as the previous season, with each team playing every other team home and away before the playoffs. The total number of matches remains at 34.

"We're thrilled to start the season in Gqeberha with our defending champions and look forward to an action-packed summer of cricket," said Graeme Smith, SA20 league commissioner. "As we welcome international talent to the roaring pool of local stars, we aim to deliver an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike."

The SA20 squads are nearing completion, with each team having secured between 14 and 17 players on their rosters. The remaining players will be decided via an auction on October 1.

Tags: #SA20, #Cricket, #SunrisersEasternCape, #StGeorgesPark, #WanderersStadium