Smith emphasized the fact that SA20 features local talent more unlike rivals ILT20.
Former India batter Virender Sehwag has responded to ex-Proteas captain Graeme Smith's views about the IPLT20, perceiving a hint of jealousy in the former South Africa captain's assessment of the league.
Smith, the SA20's commissioner, stated last week that 'leagues like ILT20 aren't beneficial for the game', citing his conviction that the league focuses on promoting known stars rather than incoming young players, which the SA20 values.
The third edition of the ILT20 gets underway Wednesday, with six teams featuring some of the renowned names in cricket.
"We see ourselves as very different to the ILT20. We're a South African league, with a majority of South African players, and our ultimate goal is to benefit South African players.
We've been built up against ILT20, so it's very difficult for me to not come across like I'm bad-mouthing them, but I do feel like a league like that is not good for the game; that there are that many international players required to build a team; there's no investment back into local cricket. That is a challenge for the world game and something that needs to be managed going forward,” Graeme Smith said during a press conference in Cape Town.
However, Sehwag said he understood Smith's disappointment at not having enough international players for the SA20. However, they have adequate star power and a significant amount of emerging talent.
There are players like Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Dinesh Karthik joining the SA20 for the third season, which already has the presence of Trent Boult, Rashid Kha,n and Kane Williamson.
"I sense jealousy there because we have a plethora of international stars coming in, whereas their league is starved of such international players. I can understand his [Smith's] pain, but this is even better for the ILT20. You get to see established players here along with some local UAE talent who are rubbing shoulders with legends and experienced pros," Sehwag said while talking to the Snitch YouTube channel.
On the other hand, ILT20 2025 has players like Sunil Narine, David Warner, James Vince, and Andre Russell to name a few.