Media365
South Africa’s premier cricket league is gearing up for its biggest season yet, with more than 500 players confirmed for the SA20 Season 4 Player Auction. The auction, scheduled for 9 September in Johannesburg, will see 300 South African cricketers and 241 overseas players go under the gavel as six franchises complete their 19-man squads for the competition starting on 26 December 2025. However, the auction list currently doesn’t feature any Indian players.This year’s player registration shattered records, with over 800 cricketers entering the pool, the highest in the tournament’s four-year history. After franchise reviews, the list was refined to 541 names, reflecting both South Africa’s rich domestic pipeline and the tournament’s growing international appeal.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Leading the local contingent is Proteas T20I captain Aiden Markram, joined by seven members of South Africa’s T20 World Cup final squad, including Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, and Gerald Coetzee. Test regulars such as Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Tony de Zorzi and Dane Paterson also feature prominently.On the international front, the auction will welcome some of the game’s biggest names. Bangladesh icon Shakib Al Hasan, the country’s all-time leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in T20Is, headlines a strong overseas roster and is bidding to become the first Bangladeshi to play in SA20. His compatriot, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, is also among the entrants.England’s record wicket-taker James Anderson adds star power to the list, joined by T20 World Cup winners Alex Hales and Moeen Ali. Familiar faces to SA20 fans include Season 2 Final hero Tom Abell and past champions Adam Rossington, Jordan Cox, and Daniel Worrall. The player pool also stretches to Australia and New Zealand, with D’Arcy Short and South African-born Black Cap Devon Conway among the notable names.In a first for the league, Season 4 will feature a dedicated Under-23 player pick, reserved for South African cricketers under the age of 23 on opening day. Rising stars such as Dewald Brevis, Kwena Maphaka, and Andile Simelane are in contention for these slots.A total purse of US$7.37 million will be available to fill 84 open spots, including up to 25 for overseas players. Each franchise must assemble a 19-man squad, with at least nine South Africans, a maximum of seven internationals, two U23 local players, and one Wildcard selection.
