Business of T20 Leagues: A carnival in the making, should SA and UAE get it right | Cricket News – Times of India

MUMBAI: A total of 11 Indian Premier League (IPL) trophies, three Champions League T20 trophies, followers in excess of 50 million on social media platforms across Twitter and Instagram, mass following across the world’s largest cricket fanbase that’s India, a healthy global diaspora to look at and television numbers crashing through the roof every single time these teams have walked out on the field.
Put all these numbers together and crunch. Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Supergiants have taken to South Africa – by way of buying franchises in the country’s upcoming T20 league – a cricket jamboree like none other anywhere in the world.

They haven’t just invested in franchises. What they’ve done, in fact, is taken years of self-taught experience in the running of cricket teams and cricketing ecosystems and offered it to South Africa on the platter.
“Of course, they have a business to run. But imagine the volume of cricketing ‘soft power’ that has landed in the country. What it’ll do to South Africa’s cricketing future in years to come can be anybody’s imagination running wild,” a leading industry executive with heavy cricketing interests in Cape Town, tells TOI.
As the game continues to get seduced by the shorter format and the business of leagues keep altering the course of the game around the world, South Africa’s cricket economy has just received an enviable shot in the arm. What it does to the game and the country going forward can only be waited and seen.
What’s the potential, though?
“That’s something the cricket fraternity will only begin to notice once these teams begin with their operations in SA. Let me give you an example. What if Mumbai Indians propose that they would like to invest in young South African talent and therefore, extend their successful talent scouting program in and around Cape Town?
“Or CSK, for that matter, paint the Bullring yellow? These are extremely successful cricket clubs we’re talking about. DC, RR, SRH – they understand the business of T20 better than most. Only Shahrukh Khan’s Knight Riders could’ve added any more charm to all of this,” say those tracking these developments.
Thoughts fly back to the year 2009, when the BCCI shifted the IPL to South Africa in the wake of India hosting general elections back then. ‘Bollywood’ parading the streets around Sandton made for a heavy cocktail and the tournament turned out to be a carnival like never before.
“That ‘Bollywood’ is missing. But there’s no dearth of serious cricketing business that is set to be established out here,” says a South Africa cricket industry executive.
The country’s looking forward to the changing dynamics even as Cricket South Africa (CSA) goes about signing players globally. “Word has it that Graeme Smith hasn’t kept his phone down this whole week. He’s literally burning the midnight oil calling players himself. Of course, there are some very capable people who know this business well and are aiding his efforts,” he says.
Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan, Jason Roy, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Tymal Mills from England; Jason Holder, Alzari Joseph, Obed McCoy, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Harry Tector – the names are already on board alongside each and every South African cricketer worth his presence. And the signings won’t stop here.
Cricket Australia (CA) has taken a call to hand over fresh Big Bash League (BBL) contracts to their top cricketers, including David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith among others. But those in the know say “CSA is hardly complaining right now”.

Shifting sands in the Emirates
While South Africa works at realigning its cricketing priorities, the United Arab Emirates, with the backing of Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), is not wasting any time either.
While the league is still in the process of figuring out their hiring policies for players – in terms of how many names can directly be brought on board by franchises and how many need to be centrally contracted – teams have already gone about inviting their IPL players to come on board.
GMR has signed up with Shimron Hetmeyer and Rovman Powell. Knight Riders have roped in Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.
And further signings are on with sources saying, “the coming week will see a lot of action conclude”.
What works for the UAE T20 league is quite unique too. For starters, conditions being similar to India will allow the league to be a precursor of sorts to the IPL, if played just before the Indian T20 league.

There’s more. With Emirates Cricket Board listing their property as an ‘international’ T20 league, and franchises having to recruit nine overseas players in their eleven, the decision allows teams to scout for talent all over the world and not just the relatively popular full members.
“There are 96 countries to choose from. All these are cricket-playing nations and there’s no dearth of talent. Getting them on board alongside some bigger names and proven professionals will not just help develop the game at the grassroots in the Emirates but also allow these participating nations to gain from the rising popularity of their own future stars,” say those who’re working on setting up this league.
And to conclude, the UAE T20 property has Shahrukh Khan on board – Dubai’s global ambassador, a movie star with immense charm to lure fans on board and most definitely one of IPL’s most popular icons and team owner.
– The article is the third of a four-part series on the changing landscape of cricket.