Cricket South Africa has officially postponed of the Mzansi Super League amid COVID-19.
Cricket South Africa has already finalized the fate of Mzansi Super League 2020-2021. Amid the outbreak of COVID-19, the board has postponed the league due to various national and international logistical reasons. In an official statement by the board, it was said that the 2020 edition of the MSL will now be held from November to December 2021.
As per acting CEO Kugandrie Govender, ‘The 2020-21 global cricket calendar will be jam-packed, appreciating the ICC's efforts to fit as many missed international tours due to COVID-19 into this period. The impact of revised calendars for international cricket across all ICC members and other T20 leagues have had a knock-on effect on South African cricket scheduling’.
She also stated that the teams and the headline sponsor of the event had equally been disappointed. Still, they had expressed their understanding of the situation. They also stated that they will continue to support the league once it resumes in 2021.
She also said, ‘It is unfortunate but unavoidable that we have had to take this decision but maintaining the high quality of cricket that we have seen in the first two editions of the MSL is a non-negotiable for CSA. The fact that we would have to play in empty grounds was another consideration, not only financially but also for player morale and team spirit, which links to fan support’.
‘The atmosphere and encouragement our fans have brought to first two editions have been significant and contributed incredibly to the MSL's success. We would not want to lose out on that or the opportunity to position the league as an important way to attract new fans to the game. We look forward to returning to business as usual next season’, she added.
The first two MSL tournaments had cost the board around $11.7 million. With that, financial matters may also be another reason as to why the league has been put to a halt. To further understand sports leagues, visit Betwala.
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