What Players Have Been Pre-Signed and Retained for SA20 Season 4?

Johannesburg, July 23 (NationPress) - Six franchises from the SA20 league have revealed their pre-signed and retained players for the upcoming Season 4, with auctions set to take place on September 9.

Each franchise was allowed to retain or pre-sign up to six players, including a maximum of three from South Africa and three from overseas, during the retention window that closed on July 18.

Additionally, teams have strategically finalized their six Wildcard signings, focusing on the remaining roster spots and a combined maximum budget of USD 7.4 million to fill 84 available positions at the auction.

In Season 4, a Wildcard player can be any overseas athlete or a South African who was part of the team's roster in Season 3.

Durban’s Super Giants have concentrated on securing a formidable overseas trio, including Sunil Narine, a T20I legend from the West Indies, alongside Jos Buttler from England and Noor Ahmad from Afghanistan, while retaining megastar Heinrich Klaasen as a Wildcard. The KZN side will approach the auction with the second-largest available budget of USD 1.7 million to fill 15 remaining player slots.

The Joburg Super Kings have opted to retain seasoned captain Faf du Plessis and have added English players James Vince and Richard Gleeson, entering the auction with the joint third-largest budget of USD 1.2 million.

Defending champions MI Cape Town have utilized their full six-player retention and Wildcard allowance to strengthen their championship-winning squad from Season 3, also bringing in West Indies superstar Nicholas Pooran.

Paarl Royals have retained five players and a Wildcard, continuing their strategic focus on youth by keeping Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the Batter of the Season from Season 3. They have also pre-signed Sikandar Raza, the Zimbabwe T20I captain, marking him as the first player from South Africa’s northern neighbors to join SA20.

Pretoria Capitals are favoring the auction route, having secured two players and a Wildcard in Andre Russell, a T20 World Cup winner from the West Indies. They will enter the auction with the highest budget available, USD 1.8 million, to fill their squad of 16 players.

Notable South African players available at the auction include Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, along with rising stars Dewald Brevis and Kwena Maphaka. T20 specialists like Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, and Tabraiz Shamsi are also on the auction block.

“When the League first established its regulations in Season 1, we envisioned this upcoming season as a chance for a strategic reset — and we are exactly where we anticipated being. There’s a solid balance between pre-signed and retained international players and Proteas, along with a significant budget available for the auction,” stated Graeme Smith, SA20 League Commissioner.

“After three seasons, franchises have gained a deeper understanding of the South African cricket landscape and developed a unique strategy that sets up the most thrilling auction yet,” he concluded.