Standard Bank Pro20 Series to be launched in April

The South African cricket board is launching its own version of the 20-over competition that took England by storm last year. The Standard Bank Pro20 Series will be played over a three-week period in April, with the six new professional franchises playing each other in a round-robin format, before moving on to the semi-finals and the final on May 1.

There will be 18 matches in all, and the series will also give spectators an opportunity to see the national squad members representing their respective franchises.

Gerald Majola, a board executive, said the new event will give the game a massive boost on the domestic front. "The Standard Bank Pro20 Series is going to launch a new era for domestic professional cricket in South Africa," he said. "From next season, our domestic professional cricket competitions, the Standard Bank Cup and the SuperSport Series, will be contested by six franchise teams.

"The main reason for the change is to introduce Strength vs Strength competitions, which will make for even better cricket and even better cricketers. Together with our partners, Standard Bank and SuperSport, we have pulled out all the stops to make a huge success of the Standard Pro20 Series. We have even cancelled our nationals team's traditional participation in the Dubai international triangular to make sure that all our super stars will be on show.

"Standard Bank Pro20 Series is an exciting format, with matches being played over 20 overs a side, everybody on the park has to go hell for leather from start to finish to win the game. We believe that the public is going to love it, and an exhilarating stage will be set for the new season and a new era of cricket."

Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, currently on tour in New Zealand said, "the Standard Bank Pro20 Series is something the players have been looking forward to for a long time. The format is one that has worked well in the past. If we thought one-day cricket was hectic and exciting, this is going to take the game to a new level, and I think you are going to see some serious hitting and fielding, and the bowlers are going to be challenged to the fullest to keep things tight. I can't wait to play."

April 7 Nashua WP Boland v Nashua Dolphins, Newlands D/N
April 8 Nashua Titans v Highveld Lions, SuperSport Park D/N
April 11 Nashua Dolphins v GoodYear Eagles, Kingsmead D/N
April 13 Mercedes-Benz ECC v Nashua WP Boland, St George's Park D/N
April 13 GoodYear Eagles v Nashua Titans, GoodYear Park D/N
April 16 Nashua WP Boland v GoodYear Eagles, TBC D/N
April 16 Highveld Lions v Nashua Dolphins, Wanderers D/N
April 18 Mercedes-Benz ECC v GoodYear Eagles, Buffalo Park
April 18 Nashua Titans v Nashua WP Boland TBC
April 21 Nashua WP Boland v Highveld Lions, Newlands D/N
April 21 Nashua Dolphins v Mercedes-Benz ECC, Kingsmead D/N
April 23 Nashua Dolphins v Nashua Titans, Kingsmead D/N
April 23 Highveld Lions v Mercedes-Benz ECC, North West St. D/N
April 25 GoodYear Eagles v Highveld Lions, GoodYear Park
April 25 Nashua Titans v Mercedes-Benz ECC, SuperSport Park

April 27 Semi-Final 1
April 28 Semi-Final 2 D/N

May 1 Final D/N