BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us: SA20 Commissioner Graeme Smith

The SA20 2025, which commenced last month, will conclude on Saturday, February 8. MI Cape Town will lock horns with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the all-important final. This particular edition of the SA20 has seen a significant increase in the popularity of the league as compared to its previous editions.

The Commissioner of the tournament, Graeme Smith, credited the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Indian Premier League in being of great help all throughout. 

"BCCI and IPL have been amazing in supporting us and guiding us in every decision we have made. IPL is the leader in franchise cricket by far, and we can only learn from them," shared Smith, as quoted by India Today.

Smith also touched on the harmonious bond between South African cricket and Indian cricketers.

"We always said that we have worked with the BCCI to see what their views are for the future. South African cricket loves Indian cricketers. It is always a highlight for us to watch the talent of the Indian team whenever they come here to play," added Smith.

If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here: Smith

The erstwhile Proteas skipper shared his experience of playing in the Indian Premier League, where he represented Rajasthan Royals for the first three seasons and then ending his stint in the tournament with a solitary season with the Pune Warriors India in 2011.

"If the Indian players were available, we would love to have them here. But nothing of that sort is in the pipeline. We always have conversations and probably at the IPL time, I will be there in India. We have a very good relationship with them. I was lucky that I played a couple of years in the IPL. We won the first edition with Rajasthan Royals in 2008," noted Smith.

Also Read: MI Cape Town are favorites to lift the trophy: SA20 Ambassador Allan Donald

Smith also opened up on a recent nostalgic moment in relation to the league which left him emotional.

"When the team told me that the second qualifier was the 100th match, I got a bit emotional because of the amount of hardwork that has gone into getting the SA20 where it is now. I started to reflect on so many things; signing our first employee, meeting the team for the first time, the first auction, and the performances we have seen over the last three years have been incredible," he said.

Former Indian cricketer, Dinesh Karthik, is the Brand Ambassador of the tournament along with AB de Villiers. The Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter also became the first-ever Indian cricketer to feature in the SA20 league.