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Cricket Australia to Grant SA20 NOCs to Mitch Marsh and Matt Short Only After BBL|16 Duties

Cricket Australia has announced that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Mitchell Marsh and Matt Short will be granted only after both players complete their full obligations in BBL|16. Consequently, neither cricketer will be cleared to travel to South Africa for the SA20 until Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers finish their respective tournament runs.

What Happened

Marsh and Short were signed as marquee players for the upcoming SA20 season. Australia’s men’s T20I captain Marsh is set to join Sunrisers Eastern Cape, a franchise operated by the same ownership group as his Hundred team, Sunrisers Leeds. Meanwhile, Short has signed with Pretoria Capitals. This marks the first appearance for either Australian cricketer in South Africa’s domestic franchise league.

According to Cricket Australia’s release schedule, clearance depends on the progression of their Australian domestic teams. A Perth Scorchers spokesperson confirmed that Marsh will remain with Perth until their campaign ends, regardless of the stage reached.

Key Highlights

  • Cricket Australia will withhold SA20 NOCs for Mitch Marsh and Matt Short until all BBL|16 commitments conclude.
  • Marsh is signed with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, while Short will represent Pretoria Capitals as marquee players for their first SA20 stints.
  • The SA20 tournament begins on January 17, 2027, featuring an opening fixture between Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals in Gqeberha.
  • The SA20 opening clash occurs the day after Adelaide Strikers host Perth Scorchers in the final round of the BBL|16 regular season.
  • BBL|16 finals are scheduled from January 19 to 26; players can only appear in the SA20 opener if their domestic franchises miss the finals.
  • Marsh holds a contract with Perth Scorchers through BBL|17 following a three-year extension in 2025, and Short is committed to the Strikers until 2028.
  • Previous Australian players who moved to SA20 franchises following BBL duties include Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Ashton Turner, and Mitch Owen.

Why This Matters

The scheduling creates logistical hurdles for both players and their South African franchises. The SA20 gets under way on January 17, 2027, in Gqeberha—immediately following the BBL regular-season encounter between Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers on January 16. Traveling between Adelaide and Gqeberha typically requires at least 20 hours across multiple connecting flights.

Because Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Pretoria Capitals face each other in the opening match, both players would only be eligible to feature if their Australian teams fail to qualify for the BBL finals, which run from January 19 to 26.

Player Form Ahead of the Tournaments

Both cricketers enter the period following strong recent performances across various global tournaments:

  • Mitch Marsh: Scored 360 runs in the previous BBL season to help Perth Scorchers secure their sixth title alongside top-scorer Finn Allen (466 runs). He added 563 runs at an average of 43 for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League and 290 runs across five innings for Sunrisers Leeds in The Hundred, despite an injury-hit T20 World Cup campaign.
  • Matt Short: Recorded scores of 60 not out and 71 in consecutive innings for Welsh Fire in The Hundred, following consecutive unbeaten playoff scores of 94 and 121 for San Francisco in Major League Cricket.

What to Watch Next

The availability date of both players for SA20 will be determined by whether Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers advance to the BBL|16 finals between January 19 and 26. Official clearances will follow the conclusion of their respective teams’ campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can Mitch Marsh and Matt Short join their SA20 franchises?

They can only join their SA20 sides after their BBL|16 teams, Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers, are officially eliminated or conclude their tournament campaigns.

Which teams will Marsh and Short play for in SA20?

Mitchell Marsh has signed with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, and Matt Short will play for Pretoria Capitals.

Have other Australian players transitioned from BBL to SA20 before?

Yes. Players including Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Ashton Turner, and Mitch Owen have previously joined SA20 teams following the completion of their BBL commitments.

Source: Crictracker