Shamar Joseph, Naseem Shah, Josh Little, and Josh Hull are among the international players who will be up for grabs in the upcoming SA20 auction. Nearly 200 players, including 115 South Africans, have been shortlisted for the player auction, but only 13 spots need to be filled across the six franchises.
SA20 Auction: Purse remaining
The Paarl Royals have the largest purse remaining at R11.95 million for the auction, followed by MI Cape Town with R8.275 million, and Pretoria Capitals with R4.575 million.Joburg Super Kings have R3.925 million, while back-to-back champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape hold R2.845 million in their bank balance. Durban’s Super Giants have R2.35 million remaining in their kitty.
Purse remaining:
Durban’s Super Giants – R2.350 million
Sunrisers Eastern Cape – R2.845 million
Joburg Super Kings – R3.295 million
Pretoria Capitals – R4.575 million
MI Cape Town – R8.275 million
Paarl Royals – R11.95 million
SA20 Auction: Who are the key players in the auction?
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill, Sri Lankan allrounder Kamindu Mendis, and Afghan wrist-spinner Qais Ahmad are among the notable international players on the shortlist.
Reeza Hendricks, released by the Super Kings, is the most notable South African in the shortlist, alongside fellow opener Tony de Zorzi.
“Some of the biggest names on the international T20 circuit have already signed up for season 3 and I am looking forward to see how the teams finalise their squads from this competitive auction list of players,” Graeme Smith, the former South Africa captain and current SA20 commissioner, said.
SA20 Auction: What is the squad size limit?
Each squad must have 19 players, including a minimum of 10 South Africans, a maximum of seven international players, a rookie, and a wildcard player. All franchises, except the Super Kings, have announced their wildcard picks. The Super Kings have until December 30 to name their wildcard player.
The Paarl Royals have selected former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik as their wildcard. Having retired from Indian and international cricket in June, Karthik will be the first Indian to compete in the SA20.
SA20 Auction: When is the auction?
The SA20 Auction and Rookie Draft will take place on October 1. The auction will be broadcast live on SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa), Viacom (India) and Sky Sports (UK) from 1615 SAST (1945 IST/1445 GMT/1015 EST).
The tournament is scheduled to begin on January 9. Incidentally, it coincides with Australia’s Big Bash League, UAE’s ILT20, and New Zealand’s Super Smash.
SA20 Auction: Current squads
Durban’s Super Giants: Brandon King (West Indies), Quinton De Kock, Naveen Ul Haq (Afghanistan), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Chris Woakes (England), Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Noor Ahmed (Afghanistan), Heinrich Klaasen, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith, Marcus Stoinis (Australia)
Joburg Super Kings: Faf Du Plessis, Moeen Ali (England), Jonny Bairstow (England), Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka), Devon Conway (New Zealand), Gerald Coetzee, David Wiese (Namibia), Leus Du Plooy (England), Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger, Donovan Ferreira, Imran Tahir, Sibonelo Makhanya, Tabraiz Shamsi
MI Cape Town: Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Ben Stokes (England), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult (New Zealand), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan), Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Nuwan Thushara (Sri Lanka), Connor Esterhuizen, Delano Potgieter, Rassie Van der Dussen, Thomas Kaber, Chris Benjamin (England), Corbin Bosch
Pretoria Capitals: Anrich Nortje, Jimmy Neesham (New Zealand), Will Jacks (England), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Liam Livingstone (England), Will Smeed (England), Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Eathan Bosch, Wayne Parnell, Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Steve Stolk, Tiaan van Vuuren
Paarl Royals: David Miller, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Sam Hain (England), Joe Root (England), Dinesh Karthik (India), Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Van Buuren, Keith Dudgeon, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Codi Yusuf, John Turner (England), Dayyaan Galiem, Jacob Bethell (England)
Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Aiden Markram, Zak Crawley (England), Roelof van der Merwe (Netherlands), Liam Dawson (England), Ottneil Baartman, Marco Jansen, Beyers Swanepoel, Caleb Seleka, Tristan Stubbs, Jordan Hermann, Patrick Kruger, Craig Overton (England), Tom Abell (England), Simon Harmer, Andile Simelane, David Bedingham
SA20: A look at each team
Durban’s Super Giants
Remaining slots: 1
Overseas slots: 1
Rookie slots: 1
Remaining purse: R2.350 million
Joburg Super Kings
Remaining slots: 3
Overseas slots: 2
Rookie slots: 1
Remaining purse: R3.295 million
MI Cape Town
Remaining slots: 3
Overseas slots: 1
Rookie slots: 1
Remaining purse: R8.275 million
Paarl Royals
Remaining slots: 1
Overseas slots: 1
Rookie slots: 1
Remaining purse: R11.950 million
Pretoria Capitals
Remaining slots: 3
Overseas slots: 3
Rookie slots: 1
Remaining purse: R4.575 million
Sunrisers Eastern Cape
Remaining slots: 2
Overseas slots: 2
Rookie slots: 1
Remaining purse: R2.845 million
Who is a ‘rookie’?
Rookie is defined by the league as a South African player aged 22 or below on the day of the auction and who has never been contracted by a SA20 franchise before.
Players who meet this criteria can be bought during the regular auction stage. If not chosen in the regular auction, then they will be eligible for the Rookie Draft.
Rookie players have a set value, and each team must sign a youngster and it is deducted from their salary cap.
Who is a wildcard?
A wildcard in the SA20 is a South African or international player whose fee is not included in the Salary Cap. The deadline for naming a wildcard is 30 December 2024.