SA20 League 2027: Full list of players in all franchises after Season 5 auction

SA20 League Commissioner Graeme Smith with the trophy. | Photo Credit: PTI

The four remaining SA20 franchises finalised their squads on Wednesday evening in Johannesburg.

Leading the list of headline signings was former Proteas captain Faf du Plessis, who sparked considerable interest before being secured by Joburg Super Kings for $162,286 USD, making him one of the biggest buys of the day.

The 42-year-old was at the centre of a bidding war between JSK and rival MI Cape Town but ultimately returned to the Wanderers where he has spent the past four SA20 seasons.

Du Plessis will be joined at the Bullring by another highly experienced T20 veteran, Kieron Pollard, of the West Indies. The all-rounder, who is the all-time leading run-scorer in men’s T20 cricket history, was snapped up by the Super Kings for $90,162 USD.

MI Cape Town invested heavily in South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, securing his services for $156,274 USD, while also adding West Indies power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer for $90,162 USD in the first purchase of the day.

READ: No team from Arunachal for Vinoo Mankad Trophy

Former Proteas top-order batter Rassie van der Dussen will meanwhile continue with the Pretoria Capitals after being secured for $30,053 USD.

Proteas Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma will be enjoying his third stint in SA20 after helping the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to its first two championships.

The most dramatic moment of the auction belonged to 18-year-old Jason Rowles. The highly rated Under-23 prospect became the subject of an intense bidding battle between MI and Super Kings, with both franchises recognising his long-term potential.

After a spirited contest, JSK emerged victorious, securing Rowles for $174,248 USD.

Three-times champion Sunrisers Eastern Cape completed its 19-player squad with the addition of Proteas left-arm seamer Nandre Burger and England all-rounder Craig Overton. They now form part of a formidable Sunrisers Eastern Cape pace attack that already includes Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Adam Milne and Lutho Sipamla.

SA20 Season 5 gets underway on January 17 next year, with Sunrisers Eastern Cape hosting Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park in Gqeberha in a repeat of last season’s final.

SQUADS

Durban’s Super Giants: Jos Buttler, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Sunil Narine, Kane Williamson, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Daryn Dupavillon, Simon Harmer, Evan Jones, Aiden Markram, Kyle Simmonds, Kwena Maphaka, Andile Simelane, Heinrich Klaasen (wildcard).

Joburg Super Kings: Leus du Plooy, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, James Vince, Matthew de Villiers, Donovan Ferreira, Dian Forrester, Duan Jansen, Rilee Rossouw, Janco Smit, Prenelan Subrayen, Faf du Plessis, Blessing Muzarabani, Kieron Pollard, Andries Gous, Dayyaan Galiem, Jarren Bacher, Jason Rowles, Jamie Overton (wildcard).

MI Cape Town: Will Jacks, Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Corbin Bosch, Reeza Hendricks, Thomas Kaber, George Linde, Dane Piedt, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tiaan van Vuuren, Trent Boult, Wiaan Mulder, Shimron Hetmyer, Lehan Botha, Daniel Smith, Tristan Luus, Oliver Whitehead, KagisoRabada (wildcard).

Paarl Royals: Dan Lawrence, Gudakesh Motie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sikandar Raza, Thomas Rew, Asa Tribe, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ottneil Baartman, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Keagan Lion-Cachet, David Miller, Delano Potgieter, Kyle Verreynne, Hardus Viljoen, Jacob Johannes Basson, Nqobani Mokoena, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Joe Root (wildcard).

Pretoria Capitals: Sherfane Rutherford, Phil Salt, Matthew Short, Connor Esterhuizen, Wihan Lubbe, Keshav Maharaj, Lungisani Ngidi, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Lizaad Williams, Codi Yusuf, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Josh Breed, Ackeem Auguste, Keemo Paul, Dewald Brevis, Bayanda Majola, Andre Russell (wildcard).

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Milne, Rishad Hossain, Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje, Mitchell van Buuren, Jordan Hermann, Lewis Gregory, Senuran Muthusamy, Patrick Kruger, James Coles, Lutho Sipamla, Nandre Burger, Craig Overton, CJ King, JP King, Marco Jansen (wildcard).