Will Markram, de Kock, and Maharaj be the stars of the SA20 player auction?

Johannesburg, Sep 1 (NationPress) - South Africa’s top cricketers, including Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Keshav Maharaj, alongside a range of international players, are set to be auctioned during the upcoming SA20 season four player auction in Johannesburg on September 9.

With over 500 players shortlisted, the six franchises will finalize their squads of 19 players each ahead of the tournament commencing on December 26. In a recent announcement, SA20 revealed that it has recorded an impressive 800+ player registrations, marking the highest figure in its four-year journey, before narrowing down to 541 candidates after franchise evaluations.

The final auction pool consists of 300 South African cricketers and 241 international players. Markram, the T20I captain of South Africa, leads the South African list that also includes de Kock, Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Reeza Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottneil Baartman, and Gerald Coetzee.

Under Markram's leadership, Sunrisers Eastern Cape clinched two consecutive SA20 titles in 2023 and 2024, finishing as runners-up in 2025. The team can utilize the right-to-match card if they choose to re-bid for Markram during the auction.

Notable players from the ICC World Test Championship-winning team, such as Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Tony de Zorzi, and Dane Paterson, will also be part of the auction.

The international roster features Shakib Al Hasan, a left-arm spin all-rounder from Bangladesh, aiming to make history as the first player from his nation to compete in the league, along with his fellow countryman, left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

English cricket legend James Anderson leads a robust delegation from England, including Alex Hales, Moeen Ali, Tom Abell, Adam Rossington, Jordan Cox, and Daniel Worrall. Australian cricketer D’Arcy Short and New Zealander Devon Conway, who was born in South Africa, further enrich the auction pool. A newly introduced Under-23 category allows franchises to select two South African players aged 23 or younger on the tournament's opening day.

Emerging talents like Dewald Brevis, Kwena Maphaka, and Andile Simelane are eligible for selection under this category. A total budget of 131 million rand (USD 7.37 million) is allocated to fill 84 slots, which includes the selection of 25 international players.

Each squad must consist of 19 players, including at least nine South Africans, seven international players, two Under-23 South Africans, and one Wildcard player. The auction will be live-streamed on JioHotstar in India, as well as on the tournament’s official YouTube channel and social media platforms.