Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled its R350m ($27m/€24.3m/£21m) stadium refurbishment plan ahead of its new Twenty20 Global League.
The money will be invested in venue upgrades over the next three years, with R200m being used in the next few months on artificial lighting systems, advanced sports field technology and LED scoreboards. Changing rooms and media centres will also be improved in the upcoming months.
“We want our cricket stadiums to be world class and having recognised the need to improve our facilities, we are in a very fortunate position to be able to do so,” said CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat.
“Looking ahead over the next two years, CSA are planning to implement new designs and features like improved Wi-Fi signal and reach, crowd flows and ticketing systems to enhance fan experience,” he added.
The venues have been evaluated to identify the work and investment required to go into each stadium, the CSA said.
Work has already started at different stadiums across the country in order to complete any developments before the new season and prior to the T20 Global League tournament kicks off in November.
The new league involves eight city-based franchises that will be sold individually. The owners will be announced in London on June 19.
Eight ‘marquee’ overseas players and eight top South African stars have already been announced and will be allocated to each of the teams.
The eight overseas players already named are West Indians Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga, New Zealander Brendon McCullum, English pair Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy and South Africa-born former England star Kevin Pietersen.
The South African players are Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir.
Image: Maryland Pride
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