South Africa complete domestic restructuring

The restructuring of South African Professional Cricket has been finalised today (February 1, 2004) with the announcement by Cricket SA (Pty) Ltd of the six franchises awarded to compete in the domestic professional cricket structure as of the 2004-05 season.

The announcement follows a comprehensive process which has endured for approximately thirty months, and which included consultation with all stakeholders.

The decision to restructure was based upon advice obtained from independent professional consultants that restructuring is essential to ensure the financial sustainability of cricket.

The new system seeks to provide a vibrant, competitive product, which will delight stakeholders and ensure strength versus strength on the field of play.

Inherent in the decision is a non-negotiable commitment to the UCBSA's policy of transformation and undertaking to uplift amateur cricket at all levels. For a franchise the maximum contracts is 18, of which 40% must be non-white. Also every match must have four on-field non-white players

Ray Mali, the President of the UCBSA expressed satisfaction that the majority of affiliates had heeded his call to forge partnerships between themselves to ensure that the inclusive spirit of the UCBSA resolution is adhered to.

Seven of the eleven applicants lodged joint applications for a franchise and these applications have been granted on the terms agreed to by the applicants themselves.

The joint applications have accordingly been awarded on the following basis:

Awarded to Northerns and Easterns and to be based at Supersport Park, Centurion.

Awarded to Gauteng and North West and to be based at the Wanderers, Johannesburg

Awarded to KZN, incorporating inland KZN and to be based at Kingsmead, Durban.

Awarded to Western Province and Boland and to be based at Newlands, Cape Town.

In respect of the Eastern Cape region, Eastern Province and Border have recognized the need to form a joint venture in the region. The two affiliates held amicable talks, but were unable to reach consensus on the shareholding of the joint venture and where the headquarters should be based.

These affiliates requested Cricket South Africa to determine the two aspects on which they were unable to agree. Accordingly, and after considering the merits of these applications carefully, Cricket South Africa has awarded the franchise in the Eastern Cape on the following basis:

Awarded to Border and Eastern Province on the basis of and equal shareholding and to be based at Buffalo Park, East London.

In so far as the Central Region is concerned, and despite Cricket South Africa's best endeavours, Free State and Griqualand West have been unable to conclude an agreement between themselves to lodge a joint application for a franchise.

The two affiliates were also unwilling to allow Cricket South Africa to determine the matter in respect of which they were unable to agree. Accordingly Cricket South Africa has had to consider to two sole applications lodged by the two applicants.

Having applied their collective minds extensively and having considered the respective applications in detail, the Board of Directors of Cricket South Africa have awarded the franchise for this area on the following basis:

Awarded to Free State and to be based at Goodyear Park, Bloemfontein.

It is important to note that the Free State application which has been accepted, incorporated an envisaged shareholding of 55% to Free State and 45% to Griqualand West.

The franchise is awarded on the basis of the aforesaid shareholding and Griqualand West is encouraged to take up the shareholding as proposed by Free State.

Cricket South Africa trusts that all will be supportive of their resolutions and accept the challenges of the new dispensation in a constructive manner.