MUMBAI: Cricket South Africa (CSA), on 20 June, announced the eight successful team owners, who have earned the right to be part of South Africa’s new T20 Global League. Sources in the television industry said that Star Sports was preparing to bid for the telecast rights.

With four Indian owners, namely, Shah Rukh Khan (from KKR) owning Cape Town team, GMR Group (Delhi Daredevils) owning Johannesburg,

UAE-based Channel 2 Group chairman Ajay Sethi bought Port Elizabeth and Sushil Kumar is a Hong Kong businessman who has bought a franchise in Bloemfontein although he never visited the city.

Shah Rukh owns 55 per cent shares of his Cape Town team. The announcement took place in The Bvlgari, London. The event set the tone for a new standard in T20 cricket.

Player draft is scheduled for 19 August, with almost 400 players from 10 countries confirming their interest. T20 Global League matches to be played over a period of six weeks in November and December.

EY (previously known as Ernst & Young) ran the team owner selection process to ensure integrity, compliance and due diligence was followed throughout the process by both CSA and potential owners.

“Competition was stiff, with more than 150 expressions of interest (EOI) received from around the world and a shortlist of heavy hitters to consider, but after rigorous discussions and engagement with each of the potential owners, we are certain that our final eight owners have the perfect combination of strategic insight and passion needed to make the first T20 Global League a complete success,” said CSA President Chris Nenzani.

“The announcement of the team owners is a key milestone to successfully launch our T20 Global League,” commented CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat. “We are thrilled by the international mix of owners and the passion and excitement that was clearly demonstrated during the bidding process by them and the marquee players. It sets up our #T20GL as a fans favourite in the cricketing calendar.”