Robin Uthappa, Naseem Shah, Angelo Mathews register for SA20 auction

Former India batter Robin Uthappa, who played a major role in India's successful World T20 campaign in 2007, incidentally in South Africa, is the only Indian player who has put his name up for grabs in the SA20 auction. The auction is set to take place on September 27 in Johannesburg.

Overall, 122 overseas players have put their name forward from 12 countries. They include Australian Kane Richardson, New Zealander Colin de Grandhomme, Pakistan duo Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews and West Indians Johnson Charles and Romario Shepherd, according to the media release from Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Plenty of domestic talents, too, will be up for grabs, along with 13 capped Proteas players. The six teams have already made their retentions public after the inaugural edition earlier this year, and there will be a total of 14 picks from the auction across six teams.

In a first, the SA20 will also introduce a Rookie player pick - implying that the teams can go in for a South African player aged 22 or less at the time of the auction. He also should not have been contracted to any team from the SA20 before. As a result, the total slots available on auction day will be increased to 21. 

MI Cape Town will have the first rookie pick as they finished bottom in the table earlier this year and, while Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who won the title under Aiden Markram, will have the last pick. "Each Rookie player has a set value, which will be deducted from the team’s salary cap of R39.1 million - an increase of R5.1 million from last season," the CSA clarified.

"Recent South Africa U19 captains Bryce Parsons, George van Heerden and Juan James are among the Rookie player list, along with experienced domestic first-class players such as Jonathan Bird, Ruan Terblanche and Tiaan van Vuuren."

Paarl Royals are already leading the way, having already acquired the services of left-arm quick Kwena Maphaka ahead of the auction. The 17-year-old is the youngest player to be signed.

Addressing the purse for each franchise and the slots that need to be filled, the release further stated, "Durban’s Super Giants have a remaining purse of R1.675 million heading into the auction needing to fill three more slots, while Joburg Super Kings will be in the market for five players with a remaining purse of R6.1 million," the release said. 

"MI Cape Town have a remaining R5.05 million in their purse, while Paarl Royals boast R8.865 million in search of four players. Last season’s runners-up, Pretoria Capitals, have a remaining purse of R9.737 million to add a further six players to complete their 19-player squad."  

All squads must have 19 players, which should include 10 South African players, a maximum of seven overseas players, one rookie player and a wildcard player.