Leach will lead North Canberra Gungahlin's charge in the ACT T20 competition starting this weekend, having arrived in Canberra from English county side Worcestershire.

Leach's last T20 match in England was a quarter-final of the T20 Blast, UK's version of the BBL where he claimed the prized wicket of Pietersen.

Pietersen will play BBL with the Melbourne Stars this summer and caused a social media stir when he criticised Canberra as chosen host for the final, describing the Australian capital as a good place to visit "if you enjoy staring at walls & watching paint dry for entertainment".

But Leach, who has played for the ACT Comets and has BBL aspirations of his own, said he was loving his Canberra experience.

"It's probably not high on the list for Englishmen to come over, but I'm really enjoying it so far and Manuka's a great venue and fit for any final," Leach said.

Former England captain Andrew Flintoff has also created extra northern hemisphere interest in the BBL, signing with the Brisbane Heat.

"There is a level of interest [in the BBL] back home, it's live on [television] so it is watched over there," Leach said. "There's been a lot of English imports that have come over in the last few years, [Michael] Lumb, [Alex] Hales and people like that. The likes of Flintoff and Pietersen should make the competition stronger and certainly make it appeal to a larger audience."

The ACT T20 competition will boast players with BBL experience, including Weston Creek's Dean brothers Jono and Blake.

Despite being dropped from the Comets squad, Jono Dean has re-signed to play with the Adelaide Strikers this summer, but will be available for the first month of the ACT T20 competition.

Creek captain Mick Delaney said it was a good chance for Jono Dean to get in good nick.

"I don't think he's trying to prove himself, he's just trying to go through his processes that have made him successful," Delaney said.

"He's here until the end of November and then he's away until January, so we'll miss him for six weeks or so, but we're happy we've got enough depth to cover that spot.

"Wests are always really good in this format, and I think Northies might be a surprise packet, they've got some quality players that when they're on they can can beat anyone in the comp."

Wests is defending champion and Brendan Duffy saw fellow fast bowler Ben Oakley progress to the BBL with the Adelaide Strikers.

Duffy said the ACT T20 competition would whet Canberra's appetite for the BBL final, on January 28, but also provide another chance for players to showcase their talents.

"Ben Oakley played last year in the Big Bash, for guys around Canberra there's always that opportunity to make a name for yourself and pursue that," Duffy said.

Delaney said: "We've seen guys that have performed in the Canberra comp [that] have gone on and played [for] higher honours, so hopefully we can see more players from Canberra go on to the big stage."

The ACT T20 competition will be a quick-fire event, involving double-headers for some teams, with the final under lights at Manuka on December 14.