Nearly 200 local and international T20 cricket players will go under the hammer at the SA20 Season 3 player auction taking place in Cape Town on October 1, 2024. 14 countries have been represented across the field, with 73 overseas players and 115 South African players making up the main auction.
On Wednesday, the shortlist was announced to showcase the global appeal around the league. Before the list was shortened for the final auction, which saw nearly 600 applications during the player registration period. The West Indies fast bowling phenomenon Shamar Joseph tops the list along with his teammate, Matthew Forde.
Along with Ireland’s left-arm seamer Josh Little, who will be seeking a return to South Africa’s premier T20 competition after playing for the South Africa Capitals during the inaugural season, the England international fast bowling quartet of Saqib Mahmood, Ollie Robinson, Jake Ball, and Josh Hull are also on the list. Fast bowler Nazeem Shah will be up for grabs in the upcoming SA20 auction.
New Zealand’s record-breaking T20I opener, Martin Guptill, could potentially add some explosive batting power to one of the six teams, while Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka’s rising star, will also be up for the taking. South Africa’s leading domestic players have also put their names forward, with current Cricket SA T20 Player of the Year Reeza Hendricks topping the list along with fellow opener Tony de Zorzi.
There are only 13 spots to be filled up by the six franchises. League Commissioner and the former South Africa captain, Graeme Smith, expect another thrilling high-stakes auction: “I am looking forward to seeing how the teams finalize their squads from this competitive auction list of players. For season 3, some of the biggest names on the international T20 circuit have already signed up,” he said.
All squads are required to have only 19 players, a rookie and a wildcard player, with a minimum of ten South African players and a maximum of seven international players. After successfully being introduced in Season 2, they will once again feature the rookie player draft after the main auction. The rookie can be bought in the regular auction stage, but if not chosen in the regular auction, then they will be eligible for the new rookie draft, which will take place after the regular auction.
Barring Super Kings, Wildcard picks were announced by all franchises. Joburg Super Kings have R3.925m in their bag, while back-to-back champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape have R2.845m. And then Durban’s Super Giant has R2.35 million remaining in their purse. But the Joburg Super Kings still have the option to include the Wildcard player for Season 3 and will have until the December 30 deadline to confirm their selection. The biggest purse of R11.950m to spend at the auction is Paarl Royals. After that, Western Cape neighbors MI Cape Town have R8.275m, followed by Pretoria Capitals have R4.575m to spend at the auction.
