The ICC’s proposal to ensure there is at least one sanctioned world event every year might work in South Africa’s favour, given the lack of major cricket tournaments hosted by Mzansi in the past decade, writes Alasdair Fraser.
Hopefully, the Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa in 2022, is the catalyst for exciting times in this new decade.
As a fan of the early-1990s vintage, it is with great excitement to see South Africa host the second edition of the Over-50 Cricket World Cup. Unfortunately, Jonty Rhodes pulling out has put a slight damper but I’m sure once the first over has been bowled the excitement will grow.
The tournament, sponsored by Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages, features 12 teams from around the cricket world, with each team playing eight 45-over games within the space of just 13 days before the final, at Newlands, on 24 March.
There will be other ex-Proteas, though, who’ll feature at the event with the likes of Dave Callaghan, Alan Dawson, Pieter Strydom and Henry Williams taking their place alongside the likes of former first-class stalwarts like Louis Koen, Bradley Player, Kenny Jackson and a few lesser-known names who’ll be brushing away the cobwebs in their respective old kit bags.
If you are residing in the Western Cape, I recommend exploring the beautiful club grounds dotted around the province and enjoy what will be some absorbing cricket while you sip on your favourite beverage.
Another positive to look forward to is that South Africa will also be hosting the Women’s 2022 T20 World Cup. Given that the Proteas Women were outstanding in Australia and narrowly lost to the hosts and eventual winners, South Africans will welcome the world with open arms come 2022 and will get behind a unit that is going from strength to strength.
It’s a crying shame, though, that South Africa hasn’t hosted a big cricket event since the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy. Before that, it was the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in 2007 and the Cricket World Cup in 2003. It’s a crying shame that a legend like Dale Steyn never got to play in a World Cup hosted in South Africa either.
Given South Africa’s great success in hosting the IPL on behalf of India in 2009 and our high success rate as a nation to put on a wonderful show (remember the 2010 Fifa World Cup?), it’s been puzzling to see a dearth of major events in Mzansi.
The last time a Rugby World Cup took place in South Africa was 25 years ago, yet France (2007 and 2023) and some parts of the UK have basked in Rugby World Cup action multiple times.
It’s a tough economic climate on a global scale and far more hard-hitting closer to home. We need the cash injection that comes with hosting these high-scale events. What plays in our favour is that South Africa already has an existing stadium infrastructure that is world-class. Yet the tumbleweeds have been blowing across the fields of our stadiums over the past decade.
The ICC’s proposal to ensure there is a world event every year for the next decade might work in South Africa’s favour. Under the proposal, first tabled to the ICC Board in October last year, there would be a T20 Champions Cup in 2024 and 2028 and an ODI Champions Cup in 2025 and 2029, alongside the T20 World Cups in 2026 and 2030, and the ODI World Cups in 2023, 2027 and 2031.
Crucially, the big three (England, India and Australia) aren’t too happy about this as it will infringe on their cash-cow bilateral series like the Ashes and could affect India’s lucrative IPL. The small fry (the rest of the Test-playing nations) and Associate Members won’t mind it one bit.
This is where South Africa as a host nation comes in. While I was never a fan of the Champions Trophy concept and supported the ICC’s decision to can the ‘nothing’ event, it may lead to South Africa getting their name back on the cricketing calendar by hook or by crook.
It’s time for our next generation of fans to be inspired by seeing the likes of Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes and Kagiso Rabada performing at a major tournament in our backyard because the gold standard will always be the hosting of a World Cup.
India have the next ODI showpiece in 2023 (they co-hosted it in 2011). Surely, it’s our turn next?
Photo: EPA/KIERAN GALVIN
