On January 9, two-time SA20 champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape will be competing against MI Cape Town in the tournament's opening match at St. George's Park. On February 8, Wanderers Stadium will host the final for the second time. It also hosted the final of the inaugural edition. On Monday, the schedule for the third edition of the tournament was released. Dinesh Karthik, a former wicketkeeper and batsman for India, will play for MI Cape Town alongside Joe Root and England Test captain Ben Stokes.
Kane Williamson will also make his maiden appearance, having signed up for Durban Super Giants while Anrich Nortje will make a comeback after missing the second edition due to injury. The tournament playoffs will be at three venues.
The top two teams will play in Qualifier 1 at St George's Park, with the winner advancing to the final. The Eliminator clash will be between teams finishing third and fourth. The losing side of Qualifier 1 and winner of the Eliminator will meet in Qualifier 2 with both these games to be played at Centurion.
SA20 league commissioner and former South Africa captain Graeme Smith said, "We're thrilled to start the season in Gqeberha with our defending champions and look forward to an action-packed summer of cricket. As we welcome international talent to the roaring pool of local stars, we aim to deliver an unforgettable experience for both players and fans alike."
