South African Ram Slam T20: Preview of a global tournament

The Lions celebrate after the 2013 RAM Slam T20 Challenge Final

South African’s domestic T20 competition known as the Ram Slam T20 Challenge goes global. Similar to how Australia’s Big Bash League is broadcasted worldwide, the Ram Slam T20 Challenge will follow suit.

Cricket South Africa announced over the weekend that they struck a deal with Dubai-based broadcaster and Asian Proteas cricket right holders, TAJ TV. All the T20 matches broadcasted on Supersport, Africa’s Sports Television broadcaster, will be shown live on Ten Sports in Asia and the Middle East.

“With the best Proteas and some marquee international players joining our domestic stars, cricket fans around the world will be able to watch live the high-quality cricket that we anticipate.” said CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.

Almost all of the South African cricket team’s contracted players will be available to their domestic teams. Proteas ODI captain, AB de Villiers, is out for his domestic team The Unlimited Titans, recovering from a hand injury sustained against India. Dale Steyn is out for his domestic side, the Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras as he has been given rest in order to prepare for the Australian tour to South Africa next month.

South African all-rounder, Wayne Parnell, of the Chevrolet Warriors commented: “Timing of the competition is perfect as it leads into the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March. Virtually all the Proteas will be in action, not to mention the stars from overseas, and it will be perfect window to show the strength of South African cricket to the world.”

The six domestic teams have a great array of International players in each squad, with the likes of Saeed Ajmal and Sunil Narine in the mix. Chris Gayle who was scheduled to play for the Sunfoil Dolphins pulled out due to injury concerns. It also comes as a great platform for some South African domestic players to get recognised just before the Indian Premier League auction commences. The six teams also fight for two coveted spots in the tournament with the two going to the Champions League T20 tournament in India in September.

Rajesh Sethi, CEO of Ten Sports, said: “We are excited to partner with Cricket South Africa for the telecast of RAM SLAM T20. We look forward to exciting cricket involving players from many Test-playing nations.”

In the 2013 edition, bizhub Highveld Lions were crowned Ram Slam T20 champions after beating The Unlimited Titans in the final by 30 runs. It will be interesting to see if the men from Johannesburg will defend their title as they have performed poorly in the Momentum One Day Cup last year coming in last place and only managing to win one match out of the 10.

The Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras are favourites for the 2014 edition, as they have a star studded line-up with eight and more International players including players such as captain Graeme Smith and number one bowler Vernon Philander.

Another favourite are the defending champions, the Lions with 21-year-old Quinton de Kock, who burst on the International scene late last year. However, it has happened numerous of times where the underdogs have prevailed as seen in the case of Sunfoil Dolphins and Chevrolet Knights in previous tournaments.

What remains crucial is how the International players perform during the tournament, as it is the first time in quite a while that all of the South African contract players will feature domestically. The competition has never been fiercer as preparation for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this year is also at stake, with many wanting to find a place in the national squad.

South Africa have yet to win an ICC event trophy and are on the lookout for hard-hitting and good death bowling, this may be the opportunity for vital practice and scouting for the selectors.

19 matches have been confirmed to be televised with a few more to be added towards the end of the tournament. It would be interesting to see whether the global audience will enjoy the entertainment and cricket that South Africa has to offer. It doesn’t have the flashing bails of the T20 Big Bash League but it does show a very competitive cricket nation in South Africa who are currently third in the ICC T20I rankings tied with India at 123 points.

The tournament started on 5 January and goes till 9 February 2014.

9 Jan – Titans vs Cape Cobras

10 Jan – Knights vs Dolphins

11 Jan – Warriors vs Cape Cobras

12 Jan – Knights vs Lions

15 Jan – Cape Cobras vs Lions and Titans vs Warriors

17 Jan – Knights vs Cape Cobras and Warriors vs Dolphins

19 Jan – Warriors vs Lions and Dolphins vs Cape Cobras and Titans vs Knights

22 Jan – Cape Cobras vs Titans and Dolphins vs Lions and Knights vs Warriors

24 Jan – Cape Cobras vs Dolphins and Warriors vs Titans and Lions vs Knights

26 Jan – Dolphins vs Warriors and Titans vs Lions

29 Jan – Titans vs Dolphins

31 Jan – Dolphins vs Knights and Lions vs Cape Cobras

2 Feb – Cape Cobras vs Warriors and Knights vs Titans and Lions vs Dolphins

5 Feb – 2nd Place Qual vs 3rd Place Qual

9 Feb – 1st Place vs 2nd/3rd Place Qual

International star players in the six squads:

Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras [Cape Town region]: Sunil Narine, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Justin Kemp, Justin Ontong, JP Duminy, Richard Levi, Rory Kleinveldt, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt.

Sunfoil Dolphins [Durban region]: David Miller, Kyle Abbott, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Morne van Wyk.

Chevrolet Knights [Kimberley region]: Shahid Afridi, Ryan McLaren, Johan van der Wath, Dean Elgar, Nicky Boje.

Bizhub Highveld Lions [Johannesburg region]: Azhar Mahmood, Sohail Tanveer, Quinton de Kock, Alviro Petersen, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Thami Tsolekile, Imran Tahir, Neil McKenzie, Aaron Phangiso, Chris Morris, Gulam Bodi.

The Unlimited Titans [Pretoria region]: Saeed Ajmal, Francois (Faf) du Plessis, Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, Henry Davids, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Merchant de Lange, Farhaan Behardien, Morne Morkel.

Chevrolet Warriors [Port Elizabeth region]: Colin Ingram, Davy Jacobs, Ashwell Prince, Juan (Rusty) Theron, Wayne Parnell.