Former South Africa cricket captain and League Commissioner Graeme Smith discussed what makes SA20 unique among T20 leagues worldwide as season three of SA20 gets underway on Thursday.

At the famous St George’s Park, the 2025 season begins with a matchup between MI Cape Town and the reigning Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

“I believe that our six franchisees have been able to draw in customers from the beginning since they are very competitive and competent. The greatest of South Africa, some exceptional foreign players, and talented local players have all joined us. Additionally, I believe that this year’s teams are much more formidable, which is intriguing as we approach Season 3. At the Captains’ Day news conference, Smith said, “You can see so many matchups and so many potential great games along the way when you look across the six squads.”

Smith went on to emphasize the significant influence of ardent supporters, pointing out that they play a vital part in raising the league’s reputation and fostering an environment that will never be forgotten.

“The supporters come in second to that. The supporters have, I believe, shown out in force. observing fans enjoying the environment, cheering for their teams, and having a fantastic time. I’ll never forget seeing the support of each team’s fan bases and colors during the first week of Seasons 1 and 2 when I was there in each stadium. And they, in my opinion, are amazing tales that can be expanded upon year after year.

“We hear from people all over the world that when they watch TV, they see a joyful South Africa, summertime, packed stadiums, and amazing cricket. That should continue this year, he continued.

The top player from Afghanistan, who led MI Cape Town in Season 1 but was sadly sidelined by injury last season, has returned to lead the team this season.

Having captained Afghanistan in 29 Twenty20 Internationals, Rashid is a seasoned international skipper. Last year, in Trinidad and Tobago, he played a key role in helping the Afghans defeat the Proteas in their first-ever ICC T20 World Cup quarterfinal.

“For me, it was the first time leading a team in a franchise, and it was for me a different experience as well,” Rashid remarked in reference to MI Cape Town’s quest for redemption in Season 3 after missing out on the playoffs in both of the previous editions. Considering all of the things I’ve done, I believe I would have chosen differently. However, that was the first year, and you always learn from your errors.

As I said before, we had some fantastic games, but ultimately, we just lost the game because we were unable to manage our anxieties. We simply get the fundamentals right, I think. We play to the best of our abilities and have a good time on the field. We can only get the desired outcomes in this manner,” he said.