Yet smith

World Test Championship: SA20 commissioner Graeme Smith insists the league has already carved out its place as the premier competition outside the IPL, despite rival tournaments like the BBL pushing for the same recognition.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo ahead of the close of player registrations for this year’s auction, Smith said: “In the southern hemisphere window we want to dominate and we want to be the biggest league outside the IPL. Three years in, we've set the standard. Every decision we make is around making sure that we uphold those standards.”

The SA20 enters its fourth season on Boxing Day with all six franchises owned by IPL stakeholders and boasting the second-highest salary cap in world cricket at R41 million (US$2.31m). That figure, Smith believes, underlines the league’s claim to be the “next-best” after the IPL. A marquee auction is scheduled for September 9 in Johannesburg, with player registration closing on August 18.