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First Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
SA20 announces highest salary cap outside IPL ahead of Season 4 auction on Johannesburg
The player auction for the fourth season of SA20 will be taking place on 9 September in Johannesburg and will be conducted by former Indian Premier League auctioneed Richard Madley. read more SA20 has been a roaring success since it was launched in 2023 and has changed the landscape of South African cricket – making Cricket South Africa a lot more stable financially and also improving the standard of T20 cricket in the 'Rainbow Nation'. That the Proteas nearly won the first T20 World Cup following the league's launch might be more than just a coincidence. The rapid growth of the league, in which all six teams are owned by Indian Premier League franchises, can also be ascertained from the fact that SA20 now has the largest salary cap outside the IPL after just three seasons in existence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD SA20 thus, has surpassed Australia's Big Bash League that has been around for 14 years, as well as other leagues such as The Hundred (England), Caribbean Premier League (West Indies), Pakistan Super League (Pakistan), etc. How SA20's salary cap compares with other leagues After all, the player auction for the fourth season that will be taking place in Johannesburg on 9 September will have 72 slots up for grabs and a record salary cap of US$2.3 million per team. The United Arab Emirates' International League T20, in comparison, has a salary cap of US$2 million per team after a reduction of half-a-million per franchise. Teams in the CPL, meanwhile, have a total salary cap under a million USD, which according to some reports stands at US$780,000. The maximum salary cap for teams in the BBL, which are owned by state associations, stands at US$1.9 million. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘂𝗽 🤝#BetwaySA20Auction lands 9 September 2025 🗓️ 💰 R41 million purse 7⃣2⃣ slots minimum 1⃣ epic auction Read more 🔗 — Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) June 24, 2025 The auction, which will be conducted by former IPL auctioneer Richard Madley, includes the 'Right To Match' card – which allows franchises to match the bid for a player who was part of their squad in the previous season. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also introduced in the upcoming player auction is the 'Wildcard' player slot, which gives franchises the authority to sign one player, local or foreign, outside the salary cap, in order to lend more flexibility to the squad. 'The SA20 Season 4 Player Auction is setting up to be the most exciting yet. With mechanisms like RTM cards and an increased salary cap, we are likely to see intense bidding wars and clever squad-building strategies. 'This is a real chance for franchises to reshape their futures — and for players, both seasoned and emerging, to earn career-defining deals,' Stephen Cook, SA20's Head of Cricket Operations, said. Franchises will have to retain up to six players ahead of the auction – three South Africans and three overseas players – while the rest of the squad will be built during the auction.
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
SA20 now has the biggest salary cap after IPL: Season 4 auction on September 9
The stage is set for one of the most anticipated events in the T20 cricket calendar as the SA20 Season 4 Player Auction takes place on Tuesday, 9 September in Johannesburg. With 72 player slots up for grabs and a record salary cap of USD 2.3 million per team, this year's auction promises to deliver fireworks both on and off the bidding floor. SA20 season 4 auction on September 9 Now officially boasting the largest franchise league salary cap outside of India, SA20 continues to assert its growing stature in the global T20 landscape. From bold franchise strategies to the arrival of new international stars and young South African prospects, the auction is set to reshape the six team squads ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster season starting 26 December 2025. In a bid to increase strategic depth, Right to Match (RTM) cards have been introduced for the first time. This tool allows franchises to match the winning bid of a player who featured in their Season 3 squad—effectively giving them one last chance to hold onto key performers they were unable to retain pre-auction. The use of RTMs will be linked to the number of South African players retained prior to the auction. Another returning feature is the Wildcard player slot, which allows each team to sign one additional player—local or international—outside the constraints of the salary cap. This move is expected to give franchises the flexibility to bring in marquee names or surprise X-factors closer to the season. Each franchise may retain up to six players before the auction—a maximum of three South Africans and three overseas players—leaving approximately 60% of squads to be built from scratch on auction day. A Platform for Rising Stars The league continues to champion the development of South African talent, and while the Rookie Draft has been scrapped, a new requirement compels teams to sign a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19-man squads. This ensures that promising young cricketers remain a central part of the SA20 ecosystem. Stephen Cook, SA20's Head of Cricket Operations, said: 'The SA20 Season 4 Player Auction is setting up to be the most exciting yet. With mechanisms like RTM cards and an increased salary cap, we are likely to see intense bidding wars and clever squad-building strategies. This is a real chance for franchises to reshape their futures — and for players, both seasoned and emerging, to earn career-defining deals.' Richard Madley Returns to the Rostrum Adding to the drama, veteran auctioneer Richard Madley returns to lead proceedings, having become a fan favorite and an integral part of the SA20 auction experience. The event will be broadcast live on SuperSport and SA20's YouTube Channel, with rolling coverage across the League's digital platforms. With the combination of financial firepower, strategic innovations, and a fresh crop of emerging talent, the SA20 Season 4 Auction is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the league's evolution—one that could redefine team dynamics and set the tone for what's expected to be the biggest season yet.
