Sunrisers Eastern Cape Begin Title Defence at Home

Two-time SA T20 League champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape, will kick off their title defence at St George’s Park, which has been selected to host the league opener of the upcoming season.  The first qualifier at the end of the 30-match league phase will also be hosted at the venue in Gqebera. The final match of this tournament will take place at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium. 

After last season’s final held at Newlands, SA Cricket has decided to return to Wanderers for the forthcoming edition’s final. While no official reason has been provided for the venue switch, it is assumed that Wanderers’ larger capacity has forced them to change. 

In a historic first for the competition, SuperSport Park in Centurion will host both the eliminator and the second qualifier on back-to-back days. The iconic Kingsmead ground in Durban and Boland Park in Paarl are the only venues yet to feature marquee playoff fixtures. 

The SA T20 season commences on January 9, with the Sunrisers locking horns with MI Cape Town. The league will be held in the same format as its second season, with every team playing each other both home and away, leading up to a total of 34 matches. 

SA T20 League commissioner Graeme Smith, expressed excitement about the forthcoming season, stating, We're thrilled to start the season in Gqebera with our defending champions and look forward to an action-packed summer of cricket. As we welcome international talent alongside our local stars, we aim to deliver an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike."

The SA T20 League squads are almost finalised with each of the six sides having secured between 14 and 17 players on their rosters. The remainder of the players will be selected in an auction slated for October 1.