IN a major win for Eastern Cape Cricket, the televised high-performance game returns to St George’s Park, Gqeberha, in February, with the entire CSA T20 series being played at the stadium.
A festival of top-class cricket will see eight teams play 31 games between Monday, February 7, and Sunday, February 27.
The last time St George’s hosted a major televised game was on February 23, 2020, when South Africa beat Australia by 12 runs in a T20 match.
Participating teams in the CSA T20 are the Gbet Rocks, Gbet Warriors, Momentum Multiply Titans, Six Gun Grill Western Province, Hollywood Dolphins, Imperial Lions, Itec Knights, and North West Dragons.
The 21-member teams, consisting of players, reserves, coaches, doctors, and other support staff, will all be housed in a secure bio bubble for the duration.
“It has been some time since our iconic stadium and the cricket-loving people of Eastern Cape have seen a competition of this nature and intensity and we can’t wait to host the tournament,” said Cricket Eastern Cape (“Warriors”) chairperson, Judge Ronnie Pillay.
A further boost for sports tourism in Nelson Mandela Bay was that the games will be televised, which will bring broadcasting crews to the city for a month.
Good news for cricket fans was that St George’s Park was planning to admit spectators, according to Warriors chief executive, Dr Mark Williams.
Numbers will be limited by COVID-19 restrictions and Cricket South Africa protocols.
The details of the ticket sales are currently being finalised.
Fans will be treated to two action-packed games a day, starting at 10:00 and at 14:30.
“It will be an intense month of cricket with double headers being played over 15 days and the final hosted on Sunday, February 27,” said Williams.
“We are sure to see some thrilling action on the field of play.”
According to Williams, the St George’s Park ground staff has been keeping the stadium in match-ready condition throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have been able to ensure that Gqeberha remains the heart of South African cricket through the support of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, local business, our sponsors and the people of the metro,” he said.
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