Watching the massive success of the second edition of cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), the South African cricket authorities have decided to launch Southern Premier League (SPL) by 2011. The proposed league will be feature South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. According to media reports, all the organising cricket boards are well prepared to start the first series in October 2011.

 

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has also received the approval of the BCCI on roping in Indian cricketers for the SPL. Although the proposed SPL will be organized on the lines of IPL but there will be ten teams instead of eight. The league will feature four teams from South Africa, four from Australia and two from New Zealand. There is also a plan of rotating the series between the three participating countries.

 

The second edition of IPL, which is currently taking place in South Africa, has turned out to be very profitable for the country. The cash-rich league has given a fillip to the economy of South Africa. The success of IPL in generating revenues from all sides has prompted the South African authorities to launch the SPL as soon as possible. The BCCI has moved IPL to South Africa because of security concerns during the elections in India and the step has turned out to be a boon for South Africa.