SA20 and Cricket South Africa have launched a Schools SA20, designed to discover and nurture cricket talent among both girls and boys across the country.
This national competition will run from September 2024 to March 2025, with schools from all provinces competing for the title of Schools SA20 champions. Over 370 boys’ school teams and more than 200 girls’ school teams will participate, with over 1000 matches being played.
The girls’ competition will also be a key part of the Proteas’ U19 Girls team’s preparation for the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia in 2025.
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The competition will be conducted in three phases:
- Phase 1: Provincial Competitions (September-November 2024)
- Phase 2: Regional Play-offs (January-February 2025)
- Phase 3: National Finals (March 13-15, 2025)
“Schools SA20 is more than just a competition; it has the potential to significantly contribute to our cricketing future,” said Graeme Smith, SA20 League Commissioner. “There are a number of current Protea men and women who made their mark at a schools level. I can’t wait to see the next generation entertaining and showcasing their skills on this global stage and no doubt the next teenage cricket sensation will announce themselves to the world out of this competition.
Future Proteas stars such as Kagiso Rabada, Laura Wolvaardt, Lizaad Williams, Sinalo Jafta, Patrick Kruger, Lara Goodall, Nqaba Peter and Nadine de Klerk all began their cricketing journeys at school level before progressing to higher honours.
“Schools SA20 is a platform to positively impact the future of cricket in South Africa,” said Pholetsi Motseki, CEO of CSA. “By bringing together the best young talent from all 16 members across the country and providing them with the opportunity to shine on a national stage, Schools SA20 is set to play a crucial role in the growth of the sport. For many of these young athletes, this competition will serve as a stepping stone towards professional cricket, with the potential to unearth the next generation of SA20 and Proteas men and women stars.”
Schools SA20 will be showcased on a global platform thanks to a partnership with SuperSport Schools, with over 200 matches set to be live-streamed and broadcast across various media platforms.
