Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground has been confirmed as the venue for the SA20 Season 4 Final, while Kingsmead, Centurion and the Wanderers will stage the crucial Playoff matches in January 2026. The season begins on December 26.
For the first time in the league’s history, Durban will host a Playoff, with Kingsmead set to stage Qualifier 1 on Wednesday, January 21. The match will feature the top two teams from the group stage in a direct battle for a place in the final.
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The Highveld will then take centre stage. Centurion is scheduled to host the Eliminator on Thursday, January 22, while the Wanderers in Johannesburg will stage Qualifier 2 the following day, which decides the second finalist.
All previous SA20 finals have been played in front of capacity crowds, and League Commissioner Graeme Smith expects that trend to continue.
“SA20 Season 4 is shaping up to be an incredibly exciting summer of cricket, kicking off on Boxing Day and running through the holiday period,” Smith said. “Last year Newlands sold out all five matches at the venue and with the Final taking place on a Sunday, it sets up an incredible afternoon with great weather, entertainment and a lively atmosphere to crown our Season 4 Champions.”
Smith also highlighted Durban’s new role in the Playoffs. “Durban will host a Playoff for the first time and we’re hoping this will excite the fans, especially because the two best teams of the competition will be playing in that Qualifier 1,” he said. “We’re also excited to go back to Centurion and Wanderers on the Thursday and Friday nights, it’s always key to have the venues close together because the matches are a day apart.”
The Commissioner admitted scheduling the knockout stages is always a challenge given the short turnaround after the group phase. “It's always an interesting challenge for us to get the scheduling of the Playoff matches done and done well. Especially after an exciting Group Match stage that finishes two days before the first Playoff match. I am looking forward to seeing who will be competing.”
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The announcement of the Final and Playoff venues comes ahead of the Season 4 Player Auction on September 9, when the six franchises will complete their 19-player squads. With a total purse of $7.4 million (Over ₹64 crore) available, star Proteas and international cricketers will go under the hammer. The auction will be broadcast live on JioHotstar in India from 5 PM IST.
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