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Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has responded to former South African captain Graeme Smith’s critical comments about the International League T20 (ILT20). Virender Sehwag said Graeme Smith might be jealous of the International T20 League, which features a host of international stars.
ILT20 started on January 11 and will end on February 9. On the other hand, SA20 started on January 9 and ends on February 8. Graeme Smith, who is the commissioner of the SA20 league, recently criticized the ILT20, stating that the T20 tournament in the United Arab Emirates was not good for the game.
A feeling of jealousy because we have loads of international stars – Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag said Graeme Smith’s comments were fueled by jealousy. He stated that the ILT20 attracts a large number of international stars, while the SA20 has struggled to bring in big names. Sehwag added that the combination of international players and local talent from the UAE is beneficial for the tournament.
“I feel jealous because we have loads of international stars coming in, while their league lacks such international players. I can understand his (Smith’s) pain, but this is even better for the ILT20. You can see established players here along with some local talent from the UAE working together with legends and seasoned pros,” said Virender Sehwag on YouTube channel Snitch.
The SA20 and ILT20 are vying to become the second most prominent league in cricket
The SA20 and ILT20, both contested from January to February from 2023, are vying to become the second most prominent franchise-based cricket league after the IPL. The SA20 has faced controversy, including South Africa losing the bilateral series, but it has also led to the rise of several T20 players.
The SA20 follows the structure of the T20 leagues, allowing teams to field up to four overseas players in their playing squads, with the majority of the squad being made up of local players. The ICC has imposed a cap on overseas players for T20 leagues, but affiliate country events such as the ILT20 and MLC are exempt from this rule.
The ILT20 allows up to nine overseas players in the playing XI, with four local players also included in the list. In contrast, the SA20 requires teams to have 11 local players in a 19-man squad, including at least one under-22 rookie who has not played in the tournament before.
We see ourselves as very different from ILT20 – Graeme Smith
Speaking at a Captain’s Day press conference in Cape Town, Graeme Smith criticized the ILT20, stating that such leagues are detrimental to cricket because they lack investment in local cricket. He emphasized that the SA20, unlike the ILT20, focuses on the welfare of South African players.
“We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We are a South African league, with a majority of South African players, and our ultimate goal is the welfare of South African players,” Smith said.
