SA20 Auction: Teams Allowed Six Retentions Amidst Salary Cap Boost and RTM Introduction

The SA20 league has announced that franchises will be allowed to retain a maximum of six players ahead of the upcoming auction for the fourth season. The auction is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on September 9.

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

With at least 72 slots available across the six teams, the salary purse has been significantly increased to USD 2.3 million for each franchise. This boost aims to create a more competitive and exciting auction environment.

Teams are permitted to retain or pre-sign a maximum of six players, with a limit of three overseas players among those retained. This strategy allows franchises to maintain a core group of players while also seeking fresh talent at the auction.

Each franchise can have a maximum of seven overseas players in their 18-member squad. A minimum of 11 slots must be filled by local South African players, ensuring the development and promotion of domestic talent. Additionally, a "wild card" signing is available to each team. This allows them to sign either a South African or foreign player whose league fee falls outside the standard salary cap.

The upcoming auction will also introduce the Right To Match (RTM) card, a first for the South African league. This mechanism allows a franchise to match the winning bid for a player who was part of their team in the previous season. The number of RTM cards available to each franchise will depend on the number of South African players they have retained.

Notably, the fourth season auction will not include a Rookie Draft. Instead, franchises are now responsible for signing a minimum of two Under-23 players in their final 19-player squads, emphasizing youth development.

According to Stephen Cook, Head of Cricket Operations at SA20, the SA20 Season 4 Player Auction promises to be the most exciting yet. With a significant percentage of player slots open, mechanisms like RTM cards, wildcard players, and the increased salary cap will create interesting strategic opportunities for the teams.

Richard Madley will continue his role as the auctioneer for the fourth season, which is set to begin on December 26, Boxing Day.