Solidarity Cup match now to be held on July 18 in Centurion

Johannesburg, July 1 (IANS) Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday announced that the 3TCricket match will now be held on International Nelson Mandela Day, i.e. July 18 where three teams of eight will play in a single match, competing for the inaugural Solidarity Cup.

SuperSport Park in Centurion will remain as the hosting venue for the match which will see three teams — the Eagles captained by AB de Villiers, Kingfishers captained by Kagiso Rabada and the Kites captained by Quinton de Kock — competing for the Solidarity Cup.

de Villiers, de Kock and Rabada will lead the teams who will bat for a maximum of 12 overs, six per innings, during which time they will face both opponents on the pitch.

At the fall of the seventh wicket, the last remaining batsman can carry on, but only score in even numbers, twos, four or a six.

The side with the highest aggregate score at the end of the match will be adjudged the winner.

“It’s very exciting to get live cricket, featuring our top players, back on our TV screens again,” said CSA Acting Chief Executive Dr. Jacques Faul. “I can’t think of a more appropriate day on which to hold this game than Nelson Mandela Day when its prime objective is to raise funds for those who have been badly affected by the coronavirus.”

“It is still nearly three weeks away, so it also gives our players more time to prepare properly and to minimise the chance of injuries,” he added.

“The Solidarity Cup will provide a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the message behind our citizens in solidarity campaign,” said Nomkhita Nqweni, interim CEO of the Solidarity Fund.

“This message is to reinforce all the very necessary, appropriate behaviours in the time of this pandemic and also, to remind all of South Africa of our ability to work together, to find unique solutions in a time of crisis.”

–IANS

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