SA20 confirms competition windows for the next three editions
The SA20 and Cricket South Africa have finalized plans for the upcoming editions, securing competition windows for South Africa’s premier T20 competition for the next three years. The schedule for Season 4 has been adjusted due to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next year in India and Sri Lanka.
Season 4 of SA20 will take place during South Africa’s peak festive season, running from December 26, 2025, to January 26, 2026, leading up to the ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February. Season 5 will return to its regular January slot, running from January 9 until February 14, 2027, allowing for a longer rest period between matches and fewer weekday fixtures.
The year 2027 is set to be exciting for local cricket fans, as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November. Consequently, Season 6 of SA20 will run from January 9 until February 13, 2028.
“Confirming the SA20 window for a three-year period allows the League to bring certainty to all stakeholders and assists in securing our place when planning the global calendar,” said League Commissioner Graeme Smith.
“We know fans respond particularly well to weekend and holiday fixtures and with the ICC T20 World Cup in early February next year, our Season 4 dates provide the unique opportunity to capitalize on South Africa’s peak cricket season and key public holidays. Early planning has also meant that we are able to look at an extended window from 2026/27, which will optimize scheduling, logistics, and the fan experience,” Smith added in a release on Monday.
The decisions took into account the ICC event schedule confirmed until 2031 and the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) until 2027. A working group, composed of representatives from both the League and Cricket South Africa, determined the competition windows for Seasons 4 through 6 of the SA20.
Meanwhile, the third season of the competition is heading into the crucial playoffs, set to begin in Gqeberha on Tuesday. MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals will clash in a top-of-the-table Western Cape derby at St George’s Park, followed by a winner-takes-all Eliminator between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Joburg Super Kings at Centurion on Wednesday.
