At least 72 player slots will be up for grabs in SA20 Auction in Johannesburg on 9 September.
This year’s auction promises to bring some changes among the squads and high-stakes bidding.
The squad composition of the teams remains the same, with the league continuing to prioritise opportunity for local talent on a global platform. Of the 18 players in the regular squad, teams can secure a maximum of seven overseas players, a minimum of 11 South African players.
Season four will again see teams being able to sign one wildcard player to each squad. The wildcard player can be a South African or overseas player, and their league fee falls outside of the salary cap.
Prior to the auction, the franchises are permitted no more than six retentions or pre-signed players comprising of a maximum of three overseas players and three South African players.
This year features the largest salary cap in the history of the competition, a sizeable R41-million in the purse for each of the six franchises to make up their squads. The salary cap has steadily increased over the years from the R34-million in season one, making it the highest franchise T20 league salary cap outside of India.
In a SA20 first, a significant strategic innovation has been added to the auction with the introduction of the right to match (RTM) cards.
A right to match card allows a franchise the opportunity to match a winning auction bid on a player who played for that team in season three and retain his services for season four.
Each team will have a limited number of RTM cards to use, depending on the number of South African pre-auction player retentions they use.
The league’s commitment to the development of young talent in South Africa remains steadfast. There will no longer be a rookie draft, instead, teams must sign a minimum of two U23 players in their final 19-man squads.
Richard Madley, who has fast become synonymous with the SA20 auction, will once again wield his gavel to control proceedings.
The auction will be broadcast live on SuperSport and the SA20 YouTube Channel with rolling coverage across all the league’s social media platforms.
The auction marks the first major milestone ahead of the anticipated fourth season, which, this year, will be played in a “festive season” slot starting on 26 December.
Photo: SA20
