Should the third edition of the Mzansi Super League (MSL T20) take place later this year, the tournament could feature two more franchises bring it to a total of eight teams in the tournament.

Bloemfontein and East London are expected to each get a team in the tournament.

At this stage, it is unclear if there will be a tournament due to the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, but a proposed date has also already been set.

During the two previous editions of the MSL T20, the VKB Knights players have received the short end of the stick during the previous player draft.

Only a handful of the Knights have played in the tournament to date and these include the captain, Pite van Biljon, Shaun von Bergh, Gerald Coetzee and Patrick Kruger. A new edition to the squad, Ferisco Adams, has played in the MSL T20 after representing the defending champions, the Paarl Rocks, last season.

When the T20 Global League was launched a few years ago, Bloemfontein was set for a team in the competition, and already had owners in the form of the Hong Kong-based businessman, Sunil Kumar. However, the tournament folded mere weeks before the first ball was bowled, which meant that the loaded Bloem City Blazers never got to take to the field.

Knights head coach, Allan Donald, told OFM Sport that this may be more than just an idea and he welcomes the MSL T20 coming to Bloemfontein.

“It is very much a reality that we are going to get one, and I think that is just the boost that the central region needs. For me, we’ve got one of the finest cricket grounds in the country in terms of the size, a good pitch and it produces proper one-day runs. There is no doubt that we will see a run-fest.

“Just for our players that can be potentially involved in this tournament, it is massive. The potential of getting a quality overseas player and a Protea that will be given is a job for August. The tournament starts on the 26th of November and finishes on the 26th of December. Unfortunately, it clashes a little with the Big Bash, but that the potential of landing a couple of big players is something to look forward to.”

“It is hugely exciting for VKB and all of our other sponsors and to have that kind of quality in Bloemfontein and Kimberly would just be outrageously great.”

When CSA launched the MSL T20, Bloemfontein, somewhat controversially missed out on a franchise to Paarl. Having said that, over the past two years Paarl proved that they deserved a franchise by attracting the best crowd and also by claiming the title last year.

As it stands the six teams in the MSL T20 are the Cape Town Blitz, Durban Heat, Jozi Stars, Nelson Mandela Bay Giants, Paarl Rocks and Tshwane Spartans.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport