"We did look at it for the season, but we felt that it is too early for us to implement it"- Graeme Smith on Impact Player Rule for SA20 2025
SA20 League commissioner and former South African captain Graeme Smith feels it would be too early to implement the Impact Player Rule in the upcoming 2025 SA20 season. However, he admitted that the idea crossed his mind, having seen its existence over the past two IPL seasons.
The Impact Player Rule allowed teams to replace any player in the playing XI with one of the five listed as Impact Players during the game. While the concept has received mixed reactions with some criticizing it for minimizing the development of all-rounders, others have called it an excellent innovation to make the game more exciting.
Speaking to the PTI as quoted by MSN, Smith responded to the query on bringing in the Impact Player to the SA20 by saying:
"We have been less experimental compared to IPL and its Impact Player rule. While we continue to establish the tournament, we are ensuring that people understand the cricketing aspect of it. We did look at it (Impact Player) for the season, but we felt that it is too early for us to implement it."
He added:
"We are only into our third season compared to BBL and IPL. So, it remains traditional for us, but we will think every season about the possibility of introducing new things."
The Impact Player Rule was introduced by Cricket Australia in the 2020-21 Big Bash League (BBL), calling it the X-factor Player rule.
As things stand, the existence of the Impact Player Rule in the IPL from next season hangs in the balance with a decision likely to be announced soon. Meanwhile, the third SA20 season will be played from January 9 to February 8 next year.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape will look to make it a hat-trick of titles in 2025 SA20
The Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC) will look to complete an incredible hat-trick of title wins in the upcoming 2025 SA 20. Led by Aiden Markram, SEC won the inaugural edition in 2023 by defeating the Pretoria Capitals by four wickets in the summit clash.
The franchise clinched back-to-back triumphs in the 2024 season by dispatching the Durban Super Giants by 89 runs in the grand finale.
2024 has been a phenomenal success for the SunRisers as their IPL franchise followed their SA20 sister side and clinched the final in the 2024 IPL season before losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders.
While no team has ever managed the title hat-trick in the IPL, SEC will look to achieve the feat in the upcoming SA20 season at the start of next year.