VANCOUVER: Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis criticised Canada Super60’s short boundaries in comments published on Wednesday, questioning the cricket on display at BC Place.
His remarks followed footage of Mississauga Masters bowler Ali Khan sending a delivery over Toronto Sixers batter Kieron Pollard’s head and beyond the boundary.
Although the ball cleared the ropes, it counted as five runs: a wide penalty and a four-run boundary allowance. Pollard had not struck it with his bat.
Du Plessis told The Guardian that “it doesn’t look like proper cricket”. He pointed to edges carrying for six and teams chasing more than 100 runs in four overs.
The ten-over-a-side (T10) tournament ran from September 29 to October 4 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Meanwhile, England cricketer Sam Billings explained his participation as paid work that helped him provide for his family.
He posted that explanation on X after deleting an earlier brief response about paying bills. However, Du Plessis acknowledged that players he had spoken to enjoyed the competition, Vancouver and the experience of playing at the stadium.
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He argued that franchise choices depend on a player’s career stage and priorities. For players with several options, he stressed the importance of declining some opportunities.
After international cricket, Du Plessis prioritised leading franchise competitions as his replacement for playing at that level. He then considered other leagues around gaps in his schedule and existing commitments.
