BREAKING: Another blow for CSA as Mzansi Super League called off

Despite the tournament having secured an official backer (sponsor), CSA have announced that the Mzansi Super League (MSL) scheduled for February 2022 will not go ahead as planned.

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A statement said it was difficult to maintain the brand proposition of being the premium international T20 tournament due to increased travel restrictions as imposed by many nations on South Africa since the discovery of Omicron variant of the virus.

The MSL was conceptualised as the premium global T20 competition to rival the likes of Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Big Bash League (BBL); to name a few.

This was done to create a commercial vehicle to attract global and local sponsors as well as to drive interest in cricket amongst non-cricket fans in South Africa. However, restrictions such as stricter travel possibilities, the Bio-Secure Environment frustrations, fear of the new variant, and the weak Rand/US Dollar exchange rate are some of the main reasons why CSA has taken the decision to call off the 2022 version of the MSL.

This is the second edition to be cancelled in what will be seen as another blow to the concept of the competition, as the 2020 edition was also cancelled due to Covid-19 logistical challenges.

Said Pholetsi Moseki, Acting Chief Executive Officer at Cricket South Africa, made the following statement on the cancelled Mzansi Super League

“The decision to cancel the 2021 edition of the MSL is meant to allow CSA and its strategic partners to revamp and review the tournament post-Covid-19 to regain its market and commercial position. For its purposes, the MSL slot will again be replaced by a domestic CSA T20 Challenge, featuring the 8 (eight) Division 1 teams and this tournament will take place in February 2022.”

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