'Even the IPL took time to grow' - Graeme Smith optimistic about SA20's progress and future

MI Cape Town lifted their maiden title in the recently concluded third edition of the SA20, by defeating two-time defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final. As the tournament wrapped up another successful season, SA20 commissioner and former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith shared his thoughts on the league's progress and future and expressed confidence in its long-term success while addressing the possibility of expansion.

Despite growing interest and increasing calls for expansion, the former South African skipper and legend made it clear that SA20 will not be adding new teams in the immediate future. He revealed the demand but spoke about the importance of maintaining a strong foundation before making any structural changes. Furthermore, Graeme Smith also pointed out that the competition wants to stick to its six original franchises. Expansion, he feels would only be considered after the five-years. 

"Look, I take it as a positive that people want us to grow and add more franchises. I felt a lot more pressure from fans this year to expand. We are fortunate that we built a product that attracts interest, and people want to be involved in SA20," Smith was quoted by as saying Times of India (TOI). 

"We committed to the six franchises who originally invested in SA20. We told them we would give them five years before considering adding new teams. There are a few factors we need to assess before expansion. Even the IPL took time to grow, and we need to ensure we have the right foundation in place before making that decision," he continued.

Early data suggests that we sold close to 400,000 tickets: Graeme Smith

A key factor influencing the decision on expansion is the availability of quality players. Smith stressed the importance of developing a talent pool to maintain the league's competitive standards. While expansion may be a long-term goal, SA20 is already experiencing remarkable commercial success. Ticket sales have surged, and TV viewership has grown significantly, particularly in India.

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"Building up the number of outstanding cricketers in South Africa is important," he said. "One thing that separates us from other leagues is the competitiveness. When you talk to players, they say that outside the IPL, SA20 is one of the toughest tournaments to play in. Every team has multiple match-winners. We saw how that depth benefited Indian cricket when the IPL expanded. For us, it's about assessing when the time is right, but for now, there won't be any expansion for the first five years," he further added.

"Early data suggests that we sold close to 400,000 tickets, and our viewership is looking very strong. Last year, our economic impact study showed we brought 4 billion rand to the economy and created 8,500 jobs. With all the commercial growth, new sponsorships, and long-term broadcast deals in India, South Africa, the UK, and other global markets, we are in a strong position. I got a call from someone in India who said SA20 matches were being shown across airports. That's incredible for us. We love the Indian fans, and we hope they love the cricket they're seeing," Smith concluded.