Cricket South Africa (CSA) have combined their return to training and play plans with an exhibition event in collaboration with a new company, 3T, which aims to introduce an experimental format that can be played post-lockdown. The showpiece will feature three teams – Kingfishers, Hawks, and Eagles – who will all play against each other in the same match. AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada will captain the three teams. No players will be compelled to participate in the one-off event that will be held on June 27.
3T is a joint venture formed by Paul Harris, the former CEO of FirstRand bank – who is now involved in a mobile data company called Rain – Mark Nicholas and Francois Pienaar, the former South African rugby captain who has also headed up Varsity Sport.
South Africa’ cricketers have not trained in groups since March 26, when the nationwide lockdown was announced. For the first 35 days of the lockdown, no outdoor exercise was permitted and players were required to maintain fitness levels through individual programs at home. Since then, some activity has been allowed, at first in an exercise window of between 6am and 9am. Currently, non-contact sports’ training is allowed, but provincial borders remain closed. That means CSA have been unable to have any of their planned winter training camps.
More to follow