SA20 Auction: Teams Allowed Six Retentions, Salary Cap Boosted to $2.3 Million

The anticipation builds for the fourth season of SA20, as franchises gear up for the player auction scheduled for September 9 in Johannesburg. Teams will have the opportunity to bolster their squads, with the salary purse significantly increased to USD 2.3 million for each team.

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

Each franchise is permitted to retain a maximum of six players before the auction. These retentions can include up to three international players, providing teams with a base of established talent.

Teams are constructing their 18-member squads. A maximum of seven overseas players are allowed, with at least 11 slots reserved for local South African talent.

A "wild card" signing is available to each of the six teams, allowing them to recruit a South African or foreign player whose fee will not count towards the salary cap. This provides flexibility and the chance to secure a key player outside of the usual budget constraints.

The Right To Match (RTM) card will be introduced to the SA20 auction for the first time. It allows a team to match the highest bid for a player who represented them in the previous season. The number of RTM cards available to each franchise will depend on how many South African players they have retained.

The Rookie Draft has been removed for the fourth season. Franchises must now include a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19-player squads. This shift emphasizes youth development and providing opportunities for emerging talent.

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. 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 be the auctioneer for the fourth season. The season is scheduled to begin on December 26, Boxing Day.