The Cape Premier League have postponed the start of this year’s tournament.
The 2023 men’s CPL was scheduled to start on Saturday, 23 September, at Western Province Cricket Club’s Wally Wilson Oval and Vineyard Oval.
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“Cape Town has been receiving unprecedented rainfall this off-season. This has presented an unusual challenge, in that the CPL facilities will be ready, but not to the high level that is accustomed by the CPL,” read a statement from CPL founder Ziyaad Desai.
“We have been monitoring the inclement weather and more rainfall is expected this weekend. The CPL has been in constant engagement with our ground staff, and it is anticipated that there would be a 50 percent chance of play with the rain predicted in the days which follow.
“As the CPL, we are always looking for reasons to play. We believe that the risk factors – having games washed out, player safety and the standard of play being reduced significantly due to external weather conditions – is far too high.
“We have thus collectively decided that in the best interests of cricket, our franchises, our players, ground staff, umpires, scorers, and loving supporters to move the CPL to an alternate date.”
The start of the inaugural women’s CPL has also been postponed. Hoeri Kwaggo Bulls, Atlantic Pirates, Cape Vikings and Peninsula Patriots will compete in the inaugural edition of the women’s CPL.
‘No clashes with any club fixtures’
Desai, meanwhile, has insisted rescheduled CPL fixtures will not conflict with the first half of the 2023-24 Western Province Cricket Association, which will start in early October and end in mid-December.
“We are massive believers in club cricket and can assure all that there will be no clashes with any club fixtures,” he added.
“We would like to host the men’s CPL finals day on 17 December 2023 and will release the fixtures in due course.
“For the women’s CPL, the opening fixtures will take place on the 30 September and the finals day will be on 14 October.”
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