SA20 and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have unveiled the launch of Schools SA20, designed to discover and nurture cricket talent among both girls and boys across South Africa.
Previously the Coca Cola Schools Challenge, the It Schools SA20 is cricket’s foremost national school competition that all u-19 school teams aspire to enter and perform well in.
This exciting national competition will run from September this year to March 2025, with schools from all 16 cricket provinces competing for the coveted title of Schools SA20 champions. Over 370 boys’ school teams and more than 200 girls’ school teams will participate with over 1 000 matches being played.
SA20 and CSA have shattered the glass ceiling with the launch of the dedicated girls’ competition, reflecting a commitment to advancing women’s cricket in South Africa. The girls’ competition will also be a key part of the Proteas’ u-19 Girls team’s preparation for the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia in 2025.
The competition will be conducted in three phases:
Phase 1: Provincial Competitions (September-November)
Phase 2: Regional Playoffs (January-February 2025)
Phase 3: National Finals (March 13-15, 2025)
Closer to home, on 7 October local schools will be playing their first round against other Boland, West Coast and Breede Valley schools, with semis and the finals being played at Boland Park on 4 and 11 November.
Schools SA20 is an extension of SA20’s mission to continue to provide opportunities for young cricketers in South Africa, building on the success of the Rookie draft system the League introduced for players in SA20 Season 2.
Graeme Smith, SA20 League Commissioner, stated: “Schools SA20 is more than just a competition; it has the potential to significantly contribute to our cricketing future. There are a number of current Proteas Men and Women who made their mark at a schools level; I can’t wait to see the next generation entertaining and showcasing their skills on this global stage and no doubt the next teenage cricket sensation will announce themselves to the world out of this competition.
“SA20 is also committed to working with CSA to invest in building the base of women’s players and developing the women’s game in South Africa,” he continued. “Our sponsorship of the u-19 Girls’ camps, combined with CSA’s and the government’s initiatives to professionalise the women’s game, will play a major role in growing the base of players for future Proteas Women’s success.”
Schools SA20 will be showcased on a global platform thanks to a partnership with SuperSport Schools, with over 200 matches set to be live-streamed and broadcast across various media platforms.
