SA20 Teams Can Keep Up to Six Players Before Auction; Salary Cap Increased

The SA20 is gearing up for its fourth season with a player auction scheduled for September 9 in Johannesburg, officials announced Tuesday (June 24). As teams prepare for the event, a significant increase to the salary purse, now USD 2.3 million per team, promises a flurry of activity as franchises vie for top talent.

All the franchises will see an increase in the purse to USD 2.3 million © Sportzpics

Each of the six franchises will be permitted to retain a maximum of six players, including no more than three international players, before the auction commences. This strategic element adds intrigue as teams weigh their options for building a competitive squad.

Squad Composition and Wild Card Options

Each team can field a squad of 18 players, with a limit of seven overseas players. A minimum of 11 slots are reserved for local South African talent, ensuring a strong domestic presence in the league.

Adding another layer of strategy, each team will have the option to sign a "wild card player," either a South African or international cricketer. The salary for this player will not count towards the team's overall salary cap, providing an opportunity to acquire a high-impact player.

Right To Match Card Introduced

A new feature for this year's auction is the introduction of the Right To Match (RTM) card. This allows a franchise to match the winning bid for a player who was on their roster in the previous season, enabling them to retain familiar talent for the 2025-26 season. The number of RTM cards available to each franchise will depend on the number of South African players they have already retained.

Focus on Emerging Talent

In a change from previous seasons, the SA20 auction will not include a Rookie Draft. Instead, franchises will be required to include a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19-player squads, emphasizing the league's commitment to developing young cricketers.

Stephen Cook, Head of Cricket Operations at SA20, commented on the upcoming auction: "The SA20 Season 4 Player Auction is setting up to be the most exciting yet, with about 60% of player slots available for the franchises to fill." He added, "Mechanisms such as RTM cards, Wildcard players and an increased salary cap are sure to create interesting situations for teams and will allow them to strategically select their squads. We have seen some life-changing transactions already in the past few years and the upcoming auction should see plenty more."

Richard Madley will return as the auctioneer for the fourth season, which is set to begin on December 26, Boxing Day.