Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and infrastructural company GMR group have invested in South Africa’s T20 Global League, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced here on Monday.
Shah Rukh has added the third team to his name in the franchise-based T20 league after owning Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL and Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Khan has now been handed the ownership of the host city Cape Town, with the team yet to be named. Proteas batsman Jean-Paul Duminy has been named as the marquee player of his side.
The Bollywood star has seen success in these tournaments with IPL franchise KKR winning the league twice in 2012 and 2014 and the CPL franchise TKR winning the league once in 2015.
On the other side, GMR group has faced a tough time with the ownership of Delhi Daredevils in IPL — who had a below-par performance in the league.
GMR group, earlier this year purchased a Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) team from Lucknow — which will feature in the tournament this season.
The infrastructural group has been handed the ownership of the host city Johannesburg, with the team yet to be named. South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada has been named as the marquee player of his side.
Qatar Lubricants Co. (QALCO), Managing Director, Fawad Rana has been handed the ownership of team belonging from Durban. Batsman Hashim Amla will feature as the marquee player of this team.
Haier Pakistan, CEO, Javed Afridi has been handed the ownership of team belonging from Benoni. Batsman Quinton de Kock will feature as the marquee player of this team.
Osman Osman has been handed the ownership of team belonging from Pretoria. AB de Villiers will feature as the marquee player of this team.
Nedbank group Director, Mustaq Brey has been handed the ownership of team belonging from Stellenbosch. Batsman Faf du Plessis will feature as the marquee player of this team.
Channel 2 Chairman Ajay Sethi has been handed the ownership of team belonging from Port Elizabeth. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir will feature as the marquee player of this team.
Sushil Kumar has been handed the ownership of team belonging from Bloemfontein. South African batsman David Miller will feature as the marquee player of this team.
CSA president Chris Nenzani said to have received overwhelming interests for owning a franchise in the league but have shortlisted only the heavy hitters in a statement released by the board.
“Competition was stiff, with more than 150 Expressions of Interest (EOI) received from around the world and a shortlist of heavy hitters to consider. But after rigorous discussions and engagement with each of the potential owners, we are certain that our final eight owners have the perfect combination of strategic insight and passion needed to make the first T20 Global League a complete success,” said Nenzani.
The player draft is scheduled on August 19 later this year with almost 400 players from 10 countries confirming their interest, said the statement.
