Last Updated:
Speaking in a select media interaction at Pretoria, the legendary cricketer praised the league for its role in nurturing young talent and expressed his aspirations for increased participation from Indian players.
AB de Villiers. (X)
As the SA20 tournament continues to carve its place in the world of franchise cricket, few voices carry as much weight as that of AB de Villiers. Speaking in a select media interaction at Pretoria, the legendary cricketer praised the league for its role in nurturing young talent and expressed his aspirations for increased participation from Indian players.
The former South African captain and global cricket icon emphasised that SA20’s appeal lies in its ability to unearth and showcase young talent. Reflecting on the tournament’s impact, de Villiers noted, “Every year I arrive here and see players I’ve never heard of who look like they’ve been around for ages. I picked this up at the IPL many years ago and would always come back home and tell my parents, my wife, and my friends, ‘Listen, I don’t know how they do it, but every year there are these incredibly talented players that come through.’”
Drawing parallels to the Indian Premier League (IPL), de Villiers commended SA20 for establishing a similar system. “I’ve seen it firsthand as a former player and as a commentator that we’ve got that same system going. The fact that overseas players—not just any, but quality players—are coming over to play cricket here tells me that they want to be involved with this tournament,” he added.
The emergence of young talents like Lhuan-dre Pretorius has further elevated SA20’s reputation. De Villiers believes that this tournament serves as an invaluable platform for rookies to gain experience, learn from top players, and prepare themselves for national duties with the Proteas.
Hopes for Greater Indian Participation
When asked about the involvement of Indian players in SA20, de Villiers expressed optimism while acknowledging the complexities surrounding the issue. “Absolutely, I’ve no idea whether it’s going to work or not. We know that sometimes the BCCI—no, not sometimes, they are a very powerful board. They know what they’re doing. They’ve been the biggest board in the world for many years now; they make good decisions on behalf of players and the business they’re running,” he remarked.
De Villiers highlighted the recent participation of Dinesh Karthik and the influence of Indian commentators like Robin Uthappa as positive signs. However, he acknowledged that regulatory challenges might slow the process. “I really wish that we can have more of our Indian friends over there in the tournament. I can see it happening, but it’s not going to explode just right away in Season 4. I think it will gradually, slowly but surely get there,” he said.
De Villiers believes that as SA20 continues to gain prominence on the global cricketing map, interest from Indian players and other international stars will naturally grow. “The more the tournament gets on the map, the more people will be interested in being involved with SA20,” he concluded.
A Bright Future for SA20
With its growing reputation as a hub for emerging talent and increasing interest from international players, SA20 is poised to become one of the premier franchise leagues in world cricket. As de Villiers rightly pointed out, the journey has just begun, and the best is yet to come for this promising tournament.
Source link
Read More
Read More
Visit Our Site