Proteas legend, AB de Villiers, considers the Betway SA20 comes at the perfect time for South African cricket.
The inaugural League, featuring six newly-constructed teams, will launch on Tuesday, 10 January at Newlands with the opening local derby between MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals setting up an explosive start to South African cricket’s new-kid-on-the-block.
De Villiers, who has played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008, says the SA20 is just the boost the game requires in South Africa.
“I think the Betway SA20 comes at a really good time for South African cricket. We have seen the amazing things that these leagues have done to cricket in particular nations,” De Villiers said.
“To give our youngsters this base and the foundation to get exposure at the highest level against the best players in the world is what it’s all about.”
Among the youngsters that De Villiers will be keeping a close eye on is MI Cape Town’s young batting sensation, Dewald Brevis.
The 19-year-old has been a revelation since bursting on the scene during the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup earlier this year when he shattered Shikhar Dhawan’s tournament record for the most runs.
He has since carried this form into the IPL, Caribbean Premier League and most notably in Cricket SA’s T20 Challenge competition when he blasted 162 off just 57 balls.
De Villiers believes Brevis’ development will be greatly aided by playing alongside England’s T20 World Cup winners such as Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone in the same way he learnt from grizzled veterans such as Australian superstar Glenn McGrath when he first joined the IPL in 2008.
“It was a huge occasion for me and a lot of the other players. The start of the IPL changed our lives. The people are really passionate about cricket. Not only with the home team but they support members in other teams as well,” De Villiers said.
“The biggest thing that stands out for me are the people that I met. I think of Glenn McGrath and the time I spent with him. He was this hard guy and all of a sudden I am sitting with him in the changeroom and having a beer with him.”
De Villiers was also full of praise for his former national team captain Graeme Smith, who in his role as Betway SA20 League commissioner, has ensured South Africa will also now have a T20 league to rival the best in the world
“Graeme and I have come a long way together, and to have him right at the top of SA cricket right now, making a lot of good calls, and changing things,” he said.
“The Betway SA20 … I don’t think it would have been possible if it weren’t for him and all his connections and experience. I think we all owe Graeme a real thank you for bringing this big tournament to SA.”
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