SunRisers And Delhi Capitals Teams Face Massive Blow As Cricket Australia Places Roadblocks

Sunrisers And Delhi Capitals Teams Face Massive Blow [Source: X and AFP]

Sunrisers and Delhi Capitals-owned franchises have received a setback ahead of SA20 2027 after Cricket Australia made its stand clear regarding the availability of Australian stars Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short.

Both players were recently announced as marquee signings for the upcoming SA20 season. Notably, Marsh will represent Sunrisers Eastern Cape, while Short has joined Pretoria Capitals. 

However, Cricket Australia has confirmed that the duo must first complete their Big Bash League (BBL 2026-27) commitments before they are allowed to travel to South Africa.

Cricket Australia Sticks To BBL Commitments

On Friday, Cricket Australia stated that Mitchell Marsh and Matthew Short will remain available for their respective BBL franchises throughout the entire regular season. 

Notably, Cricket Australia also confirmed that both players will receive a No Objection Certificate (NOC) only after their BBL duties are over. This means Marsh will stay with Perth Scorchers, while Short will continue representing Adelaide Strikers. If either team qualifies for the BBL playoffs, the players will have to stay in Australia until their campaign ends.

Notably, SA20 2027 season is scheduled to begin on January 17 with a clash between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals in Gqeberha. Ironically, Marsh and Short were expected to face each other in the tournament opener. 

However, their participation now depends on whether Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers fail to qualify for BBL finals. Notably, the final regular-season BBL match between Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers is scheduled just one day before SA20 opener. 

Even if both players become available immediately, travelling from Adelaide to Gqeberha requires a journey of nearly 20 hours with multiple connecting flights, making their participation even more difficult.

Also Read: Mitchell Marsh Finally Fulfilling His T20 Potential As Numbers Reveal Interesting Insight

Mitchell Marsh And Matthew Short Set For First SA20 Season

It is important to note that Mitchell Marsh has signed with three-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape, where he will also team up with South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock. Interestingly, Sunrisers Eastern Cape is owned by the same group that owns Marsh's Hundred franchise, Sunrisers Leeds.

Meanwhile, Pretoria Capitals have strengthened their batting line-up by signing Matthew Short. The Capitals, who finished runners-up last season under head coach Sourav Ganguly, are expecting Short to play a key role at the top of the order.

Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Short Arrive In Red-Hot Form

The delay is a significant blow for both franchises, especially considering the outstanding form of Marsh and Short. It is worth mentioning that Mitchell Marsh has been one of the most consistent T20 batters in recent months. 

During IPL 2026, Marsh scored 563 runs in just 13 innings. The Australian captain has also impressed in the ongoing The Hundred, scoring 290 runs in 5 innings. Earlier, he played an important role in Perth Scorchers' title-winning BBL campaign, scoring 360 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 132.35.

On the other hand, Matthew Short has also enjoyed an excellent run with the bat. Notably, he recently smashed unbeaten scores of 60 and 71 for Welsh Fire in the Hundred. Before that, Short starred in MLC for San Francisco.

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