SA20 has been an unqualified success for us, says Proteas coach Shukri Conrad

Proteas Men’s coach Shukri Conrad has branded Betway SA20 “an unqualified success”.

Conrad sang the praises of South Africa’s premier domestic T20 competition whilst in New Zealand, who are preparing to launch their own NZ20 early next year.

With virtually the entire Proteas T20 World Cup squad having been rested for the five-match T20I series in New Zealand, the current national T20 squad consists of players that have primarily cut their teeth in SA20.

This has given Conrad a first-hand opportunity to work with young batters such as Connor Esterhuizen (MI Cape Town) and Rubin Hermann (Paarl Royals), who have both starred in SA20 the last couple of years. Unfortunately, Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s rising star Jordan Hermann tweaked a hamstring in the series opener whilst fielding and was subsequently ruled out of the tour.

Equally, teenage seamer Nqobani Mokoena has been impressive, following on his stellar maiden SA20 season for the Royals.

“I think it's almost a global trend for every nation to have it, let's call it, a ‘souped-up T20 league’”, Conrad said ahead of the fifth and final T20I in Christchurch on Wednesday.

“It does bridge the gap between domestic cricket and international cricket. We've seen that, the amount of overseas players that come in, the experience that is then shared amongst our younger boys that haven't been exposed to international cricket.

“So, when they do make the step up, while the pressures are still there, the bigger crowds that they are accustomed to playing in SA20.

“SA20 has been an unqualified success for us. You only need to look at the numbers, the calibre of players.”

With the NZ20 set for January next year, it will coincide with existing leagues such as SA20, ILT20 (UAE) and the Big Bash (Australia), but Conrad is confident the Kiwis will find a way for their league to be successful.

“They're going to have some things that they need to deal with in terms of the timing of the year with this BBL and SA20 and ILT, all the rest of it,” he said.

“But I think it's important that every nation does have something like that and I'm sure the people that are in charge will find a way to make it work and I'm sure it will be a success for New Zealand cricket as well.

“There are always guys that have missed out on either SA20 or some league that are looking for other opportunities and if the opportunity then presents itself here, I'm certain guys will flock out here. 

“They'll take a bit longer to acclimatise, but I think they're only positives to look forward to. So I think people will be surprised by the number of players that don't get picked up in the mainstream leagues that will come across here and make this league a successful one as well.”