First-class cricket in division two has become the 1st Class Shield ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season in South Africa.
Matches will be contested across three days. Previously, matches were contested across four days in the 4-Day Domestic Series, division two.
The One-Day Cup, division two, has been rebranded the Pro50 Shield.
“Putting a one-day game straight after a three-day game will be a challenge, especially for the travelling team,” Mpumalanga chief executive officer Jaco Visagie told Club Cricket SA.
“You will have to be smart with the composition of your squad, while the home team will have a number of players to pick from.
“This increase in the amount of cricket is a good thing, but it’s going to put pressure on the depth of the squads. We will have our contracted players and the fringe players will come in. We will have to be clever about who we play, who we rest.”
Division one and two teams will compete against each other in the Pro20 Cup during the 2026-27 domestic season. Previously, division one teams contested the T20 Challenge and division two teams contested the T20 Knockout.
Mpumalanga have been grouped with fellow division two teams Easterns and the Tuskers – and division one teams Western Province, the Knights, Titans and Boland – for the Pro20 Cup.
The other group comprises division one teams North West, the Lions, Warriors and Dolphins alongside division two teams Northern Cape, Limpopo, Border and South Western Districts.
“The Pro20 Cup is going to be particularly interesting, much like the FA Cup in soccer, where division two teams get to play against division one teams” added Mpumalanga head coach Mbasa Gqadushe.
“As Mpumalanga, we can learn from division one teams when hosting them and they can learn from us, too. This is great for the Mpumalanga cricket community as a whole.
“In the Pro20 Cup, we will aim for a top four finish and then qualify for the next stage of the tournament.”
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