Follow UsThe SA20 2026 auction has been scheduled for September 9, as a big reshuffle is set to happen in the league ahead of the fourth season of Cricket South Africa’s premier T20 competition. At least 72 player slots are up for grabs in the auction, which will be held in Johannesburg.
The biggest change happening this season is that the teams will have the option of using Right to Match cards. The franchises are permitted no more than 6 retentions, comprising a maximum of 3 overseas players and 3 South African players. Similar to the Indian Premier League, each team will have a limited number of RTM cards to use, depending on the number of South local pre-auction player retentions they use.
Meanwhile, the squad composition of the teams remains the same. Of the 18 players in the regular squad, teams can secure a maximum of 7 overseas players and a minimum of 11 South African players.
This salary cap has also increased to R41 million for each of the six franchises. The cap has increased from R34 million in season 1, making it the highest franchise T20 League salary cap outside of India.
Season 4 will again see teams being able to sign one Wildcard player to each squad. The Wildcard player can be a South African or overseas player, and their league fee falls outside of the salary cap. Additionally, there will no longer be a Rookie Draft; however, teams must sign a minimum of two U23 players in their final 19-player squads.
Richard Madley, who has conducted the SA20 auction along with IPL auctions in the past, will once again wield his gavel to control proceedings. The season will start from December 26 this year, in the holiday season between Christmas and New Year.