Marsh, Short to join SA20 only after completing BBL 16 commitments: CA
Melbourne, Aug 7
Cricket Australia has confirmed that Australia's men's T20I captain Mitchell Marsh and batting all-rounder Matthew Short will be granted No Objection Certificates to participate in the SA20 only after completing their respective Big Bash League commitments.
Marsh and Short were announced as marquee signings for the upcoming season of SA20 by joining Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals respectively. The SA20 is scheduled to get underway on January 17, 2027, just a day after Short's Adelaide Strikers host Marsh's Perth Scorchers in the final match of the BBL season 16 league stage.
However, CA reiterated that clearance for foreign leagues remains subject to national board approval under International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, regardless of a player's contract status.
"CA said the pair would only be granted a 'No Objection Certificate' once their BBL 16 commitments with their respective teams have concluded," said a report in cricket.com.au on Friday.
Short, who opted to go freelance after his national contract was not renewed for the 2026/27 season, will still require the clearance alongside Marsh. A Perth Scorchers spokesperson also said in the report that Marsh would remain 'with Perth until the season ends, whatever stage of the tournament that is.'
Should either Perth or Adelaide qualify for the BBL finals, scheduled to be played from January 19 to 26, their departure for South Africa will be delayed further. Both players enter the upcoming domestic summer in rich form.
Marsh, who signed a three-year extension with the Scorchers till BBL season 17, enjoyed a stellar run in the previous Big Bash edition, scoring 360 runs to propel the side to a record sixth title. He followed it up with 563 runs for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026 and has made a blistering start in The Hundred for the Sunrisers Leeds with 290 runs in five innings.
Short, meanwhile, has also been in great touch, hitting consecutive half-centuries for Welsh Fire in The Hundred following a dominant run in Major League Cricket, where he smashed unbeaten scores of 94 and 121 in the playoffs for San Francisco Unicorns.
— IANS
Reader Comments
From an Indian cricket fan's perspective, I find it ironic that CA is being so strict about NOCs when IPL franchises pay top dollar for overseas players. But rules are rules. If they signed with the BBL first, they should finish the season. That's professionalism. Also, hope Marsh carries his terrific form from IPL 2026 into this! 🔥
Wait, so a player who went freelance (Short) still needs an NOC? That seems a bit controlling from CA. He's not on a national contract anymore, yet they're still holding the leash. On the flip side, at least CA is consistent — they treat all franchise leagues the same way, not just the IPL. Respect for that, even if it delays things.
As someone who follows both BBL and SA20, this scheduling clash is unnecessary. They could easily reschedule the SA20 start by a week to allow these stars to join. Why create this tension between leagues? Players want to play everywhere. Makes you wonder if the SA20 is being treated as a lesser league. 🤔
In India, we have a similar situation with our domestic players and IPL. The BCCI is very clear — you play for your state first, then the league. So I actually appreciate CA following this model. It maintains integrity. Also, Marsh is a gun player; his 563 runs for Lucknow last season were brilliant. Let him finish BBL and then conquer SA20. Simple.
I don't get why people are upset. It's just a day or two of delay
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