IPL franchise owners to buy all SA T20 league teams

The franchise owners of the Indian Premier League are set to expand their business to South Africa as they are set to buy all the teams of South Africa’s new T20 league.

Cricket South Africa and South African television company SuperSport are the major shareholders in the league, which is intended to be a major money-spinner for the cash-strapped national body.

According to reports, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and one of Delhi Capitals’ owners have successfully bid for the six franchises of the tournament.

CSK, owned by Chennai Super Kings Sports Limited, are likely to buy the Johannesburg franchise, while MI, owned by Reliance Industries, are set to buy the Cape Town one. The SRH franchise, owned by Sun TV Group, will supposedly be buying the Port Elizabeth one.

The owners of the LSG franchise, which was the latest addition to the IPL, reportedly picked up the Durban team, while RR are poised to purchase the Paarl team. Pretoria has reportedly been bought by Jindal South West Sports, co-owner of DC.

CSA are yet to officially announce the owners, but on Tuesday they revealed that former skipper Graeme Smith will be heading the tournament.

Smith did not renew his contract as CSA director of cricket when it expired in March but it was widely speculated that he would be involved with the T20 project.

“I’m extremely honoured to be entrusted with leading this exciting new venture. I’m deeply committed to South African cricket and happy to serve the game as best I can,” Smith said.

CSA had earlier revealed that it had withdrawn from a scheduled World Cup Super League One-Day international series in Australia in January.