• CSA ‘tying up’ T20 deals

    The proposed South African T20 series, which is to replace the failed Global T20 League, will be tied up soon, says CSA CEO Thabang Moroe.

    In a press briefing after being confirmed in the post, one which he has held in an acting capacity since September last year, Moroe said that he would also be meeting franchise owners who had bought into the Global League, and who have been threatening to derail the new edition.

    After the Global T20 League initiated by the previous CEO, Haroon Lorgat, was abandoned as unworkable, franchise owners were offered their deposits back, while CSA set up a new agreement with SuperSport for a tournament due to be played in November.

    At least three franchise owners rejected the idea and complained they had been ignored and snubbed by Cricket South Africa.

    READ ALSO: Global T20 revolt gathers pace

    ‘It has been difficult to get a time and place to meet with franchise owners, because they are based around the world, but we will meet some of them in Dubai in the next two weeks to talk about the league and the way forward.’ he said.

    But they are sticking to the equity model in partnership with SuperSport and to the timeline they have been given. ‘We are not holding back, so unless we are told otherwise, we are sticking to our timeline. We have tied up the broadcast deal with SuperSport and we are working on other deals for the sponsorship of the event. We want to deliver it this year.’

    The league is scheduled to be played late-October and November

    CSA are also on the point of signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Cricketers Association, almost six weeks late. On 29 June, the negotiators announced a further delay of a week, which was extended by almost two more weeks.

    ‘I would say we are 99% there; it’s just a case of cleaning up the document and a few semantics,’ said Moroe. ‘The principles of sharing the money have been agreed.’

    One of the main issues to be driven home, said the CEO, was that CSA needed to be recognised as the employer and players were the employees. ‘So if there were any disputes, the first point of call is CSA, or in the case of franchise players, their franchise CEO. If we could not reach an agreement, then they could go to Saca.’

    While Moroe said he has been mandated to reduce the R800 million debt by R500m, his personal target is to wipe it out completely by the end of his term in three years’ time. ‘I want to leave CSA in a healthier position than I found it,’ he said.