De Villiers throws weight behind CSA's plan for T20 league

Johannesburg [South Africa], Feb. 5 (ANI): South Africa batting stalwart AB de Villiers has thrown his weight behind South Africa's new T20 competition, set to launch in the 2017-18 summer, saying that the league will "motivate youngsters to stick around, to fight it through and to play" for the country. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has put out tender inviting bids for eight T20 teams that will make up its new tournament to be played in the last quarter of 2017. "I am so excited about it. It's going to be great. Lots of credit to Cricket South Africa for coming up with that. It's vital for our cricket. It will motivate some of the youngsters to stick around, to fight it through and to play for South Africa," ESPNcricinfo quoted De Villiers as saying. "The domestic tournament is going to do wonders for our cricket and I think it can definitely come up [sic] an IPL when it comes to entertainment and quality of cricket. With some of the names that I have heard who are interested in coming over, it's going to be fantastic," he added. The tournament is being seen as CSA attempt to attract high-profile internationals in a model similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Big Bash League (BBL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Haroon Lorgat, CSA chief executive, has, however, reportedly conceded that one of the major considerations before announcing the launch of an ambitious Twenty20 Global Destination League was losing key South African players to the KOLPAK agreement. The complete details of the proposed tournament are yet to be revealed but it is believed that the CSA has identified a window in November-December for the competition. (ANI)