The auction for South Africa's premier T20 league, SA20 2025-26, is set to take place today, September 9th, in Johannesburg. Although it has not been officially designated as a 'mega auction,' there is a b possibility of a significant influx of money being spent on players.
Sports News: The auction for South Africa's T20 league, SA20, is scheduled for today, September 9th. While not termed a 'mega auction,' it is considered to be no less than a major event. A total of 241 foreign and 308 South African players are part of this auction. Bids will be placed for 25 foreign and 59 South African players to secure spots in the teams.
The team squad size will remain 19 players, as before, with a maximum of 7 foreign players allowed. All 6 franchises have already selected their wildcard players.
Players Participating in the Auction
A total of 549 players are on the SA20 auction list, comprising 241 foreign and 308 South African players. Bidding will take place for only 25 foreign and 59 local players to fill team slots. The squad size will be maintained at 19 players, with a maximum of 7 foreign players allowed. All six franchises have already made their wildcard player selections.
A significant change this time is the removal of the rookie draft, and each team is now mandated to select two Under-23 local players. This list includes young stars like Kwena Maphaka and Dewald Brevis. Several big names are expected to be in high demand at the auction. Dewald Brevis, 22, has recently delivered stellar performances in the IPL and in Australia, and it is anticipated that he could fetch a substantial sum at this auction.
High demand is also expected for South Africa's T20 captain, Aiden Markram. With three teams requiring a captain, it is believed that the Durban Super Giants will place a substantial bid for him. Furthermore, prominent players like Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Rassie van der Dussen, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Matthew Breetzke will also be available in the auction pool.
Pretoria Capitals Have the Largest Purse
Pretoria Capitals possess the largest budget, with a purse of 32.5 million Rand (approximately 16.28 crore Indian Rupees). The Capitals have retained only three foreign players. Following a disappointing season, the franchise is looking for a fresh start under the coaching of Sourav Ganguly. Conversely, the defending champions, MI Cape Town, have the smallest purse, having already retained six players and selected Kagiso Rabada as their wildcard.
This year's auction features several prominent international names, including James Anderson, Shakib Al Hasan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Jordan Cox. Franchises are reportedly preparing to place significant bids for these players as well. The SA20 2025-26 auction will commence on Tuesday, September 9th, at 5:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Indian fans can watch it live on the SA20 YouTube channel and the Jio Hotstar app/website.
