African cricket wants to avoid a hundred ‘competitions’ despite the calendar clash

Organizers of Africa’s new continental T20 franchise say they want to avoid “competition” with The Hundred, despite potentially co-opting the same spot in cricket’s crowded international calendar.

The African Premier League (APL), played in August and September, is the latest T20 league looking to bank on the success of events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash.

The first tournament is due to start next year in South Africa and hopes to attract the world’s best talent.

“There is a lot of interest from foreign investors, even as far as America,” Africa Cricket Association (ACA) CEO Cassim Suliman told BBC Sport Africa.

“Everyone is looking at Africa and the first African Premier League.”

The Hundred, which sees 100 balls per side, is the brainchild of the England and Wales Cricket Board and is the only competition of its kind in the world. This year’s schedule starts on August 1st and the final is on August 27th.

But Suliman has insisted the two tournaments can co-exist even if they end up overlapping.

“The only open window we have is sometime between August and September,” he explained.

“Then you get more viewers. It’s quite an opportune time for broadcasts to get it going.

“There is no competition. We have to stay clear and not conflict with other events and make sure everyone is happy.”

How to take IPL?

Earlier this year, South African cricket launched its own T20 competition, the SA20.

It means that most major cricketing nations now have their own franchise-based event – a key reason why the Sports Calendar is so busy.

Everyone plays with the IPL, which dominates exposure and revenue.

“You have to factor in the other T20s like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” explained Suliman.

“They started earlier and are also building on that level.

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“We’re at the very end but SA20 was brilliant. It was exciting, brought the crowds back and it’s definitely left a very good legacy in the first year alone.

“It’s a starting point for us, so our expectations are not that high. We’re taking it one step at a time and I’m sure eventually it will go up the ladder,” he added.

Ahead of this year’s SA20, the tournament commissioner and Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith told BBC Sport Africa of his plan to take the games to neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe and Angola.

Smith also said he is happy to sit down with ACA to help with their APL plans.

“Graeme has a lot of experience and expertise and is a good friend,” Suliman said.

“It would be a good feather in our cap to have him join the APL.”

Why August and September?

The APL organizers settled on the August-September window after consultation with the International Cricket Council, the sport’s governing body, and Cricket South Africa.

For Suliman, avoiding a clash with any Proteas tour is key to ensuring South Africa’s international players are free to join the APL.

“We have to make sure we get the best players who can rub shoulders with African players who can learn and educate themselves from that experience – it will be absolutely brilliant.

“It’s players from Great Britain, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, of course South Africa and Zimbabwe and local ACA players.

In fact, these local players have already been able to stake their case thanks to last year’s inaugural Africa Cup. This is a T20 tournament for non-Test playing countries on the continent.

“We have already selected the best African 22 team from the last T20 (Africa Cup), so they are the best players at the moment to filter into these franchises,” Suliman added.

Expanding across Africa

Although the first edition of the APL will only be held in South Africa, the ultimate goal is for it to become a truly pan-African event.

“There are problems because infrastructure and facilities are hard to come by right now,” Suliman revealed.

“There is no other country apart from South Africa that can offer you such facilities.

The use of hybrid pitches – a mix of grass and synthetic surfaces – helps alleviate some of the time-consuming problems associated with setting up and managing grids, but the lack of suitable stadiums remains a problem.

“Other members are in a hurry to catch up and speed up services because there are no spotlights in Africa apart from South Africa,” Suliman said.

“Nigeria is building two ovals. Same with Ghana and Rwanda, but it will take time.”