Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Friday sent both the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras and the Chevrolet Warriors their best wishes as they prepare to depart for the third edition of the Nokia Champions’ League Twenty20 tournament in India.
Both South African franchises will leave at the weekend for the India-based tournament which starts next Monday with the qualifying competition to be decided between two teams from England, one each from Sri Lanka, the West Indies and New Zealand as well as the fourth-placed team from the Indian Premier League (IPL) – the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The teams will play in two pools of three teams each with the two pool winners and the better second-placed team qualifying for the tournament proper.
The Warriors and the Cobras qualify directly for the main competition and play their first matches on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24, respectively against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the NSW Blues.
“Both these franchises have proud records in the Champions’ League,” commented CSA CEO Gerald Majola. “The Cobras reached the semi-finals in the inaugural tournament while the Warriors went one better by reaching the final last year.
“I am quite sure that both our teams will once again be highly competitive and will provide an excellent showcase for the quality of our domestic game.
“There are also several Proteas playing for the IPL franchises that qualified including our new national T20 captain, AB de Villiers. The Champions’ League will provide an ideal warm-up for the start of our own international season with the arrival of the Australians in early October.
“That tour starts with two T20 International matches at Sahara Park Newlands and at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on October 13 and 16 respectively, so the Champions’ League provides an ideal lead-in for many of the Proteas.”
The Nokia Champions’ League Twenty20 reaches its climax with the semi-finals and final due to be played from October 7 to 9.
Both South African franchises will leave at the weekend for the India-based tournament which starts next Monday with the qualifying competition to be decided between two teams from England, one each from Sri Lanka, the West Indies and New Zealand as well as the fourth-placed team from the Indian Premier League (IPL) – the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The teams will play in two pools of three teams each with the two pool winners and the better second-placed team qualifying for the tournament proper.
The Warriors and the Cobras qualify directly for the main competition and play their first matches on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24, respectively against the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the NSW Blues.
“Both these franchises have proud records in the Champions’ League,” commented CSA CEO Gerald Majola. “The Cobras reached the semi-finals in the inaugural tournament while the Warriors went one better by reaching the final last year.
“I am quite sure that both our teams will once again be highly competitive and will provide an excellent showcase for the quality of our domestic game.
“There are also several Proteas playing for the IPL franchises that qualified including our new national T20 captain, AB de Villiers. The Champions’ League will provide an ideal warm-up for the start of our own international season with the arrival of the Australians in early October.
“That tour starts with two T20 International matches at Sahara Park Newlands and at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on October 13 and 16 respectively, so the Champions’ League provides an ideal lead-in for many of the Proteas.”
The Nokia Champions’ League Twenty20 reaches its climax with the semi-finals and final due to be played from October 7 to 9.
