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The rivalry between two major franchise cricket leagues, south africa‘s SA20 and the United Arab Emirates‘s ILT20it has become a war of words.
SA20, which began its third edition on January 9 and will end on February 8, overlaps with ILT20, which runs from January 11 to February 9, 2025. This scheduling clash has prompted comments acute of Graeme Smiththe former South African cricket captain and current SA20 commissioner. In response, a former Indian cricketer hit back with pointed criticism.
SA20 vs ILT20 – Clash between two cricket franchises
Speaking about the ILT20, Smith emphasized the distinct identity of SA20 and criticized the UAE-based league, emphasizing that SA20 is distinguished from the ILT20 by being a South African league primarily focused on developing and benefiting South African players.
“We look very different in the ILT20. We are a South African league, with a majority of South African players, and our ultimate goal is to benefit South African players.” Smith said at the Captains Day press conference in Cape Town.
Graeme Smith’s harsh observations on ILT20
Smith expressed that SA20 has been positioned in contrast to ILT20, which makes it difficult for him not to criticize the league. He believes that relying heavily on international players without investing in local cricket is detrimental to the game and poses a challenge to the future of global cricket.
“We’ve prepared against ILT20 so it’s really hard for me not to come across as if I’m badmouthing them, but I think a league like this is not good for the game; that there are so many international players needed to build a team; there is no investment in domestic cricket. This is a challenge for the world game and something that needs to be managed going forward”, he added.
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indian legend responds with a sharp retort
In a fiery reply, the former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag probed Smith, saying this suggested Smith’s comments were motivated by jealousy, as the ILT20 attracts numerous international stars, unlike the SA20. He also noted that the ILT20 benefits from having a mix of established players and local talent from the UAE, who gain valuable experience playing alongside legends.
“I feel jealousy there because we have a lot of international stars coming in, while their league is deprived of such international players. I can understand their pain, but this is even better for the ILT20. Here you can see established players along with some local talent from the UAE discussing with legends and seasoned professionals.” Sehwag said on YouTube channel Snitch.
