SA20 Season 5 Auction: Faf, Boult and Big Names Available

SA20 Season 5 Auction: Faf, Boult and Big Names Available

The Betway SA20 Season 5 Player Auction is set for Wednesday, 7 October, with 156 cricketers competing for 19 remaining places and a combined purse of R35.025 million.

The final shortlist was cut from 789 registrations to 95 South Africans and 61 overseas players, setting up one of the most closely watched player auctions in the league’s history.

Among the biggest names available are former Joburg Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis, South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, veteran batter Rassie van der Dussen, fast bowler Nandre Burger, New Zealand paceman Trent Boult, West Indies star Kieron Pollard and power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer.

With only four of the six franchises participating, the auction will also provide an important final opportunity for teams to complete their Season 5 squads.

SA20 Season 5 Auction: Teams and Remaining Slots

Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their 19-player squads and will therefore not participate in the auction.

The remaining four teams have 19 positions to fill:

The official SA20 auction information confirms that Joburg Super Kings have the largest remaining purse, while MI Cape Town also have six vacancies to fill.

That financial split could be important when the bidding begins. The teams are not entering the auction with the same amount of flexibility, meaning the competition for established international names could develop very differently from the battle for younger or specialist players.

Faf du Plessis Headlines the South African Pool

One of the biggest storylines will be the future of Faf du Plessis.

The former Proteas captain was released by Joburg Super Kings after Season 4 and is now back in the auction pool.

Du Plessis has already established himself as one of the most recognisable names in the SA20, having represented Joburg Super Kings across the first four seasons.

The official SA20 statistics list him with 1,028 runs across his first four seasons of the competition, including a century in the inaugural edition.

His continued involvement in franchise cricket also makes him one of the headline names heading into the auction.

For Joburg Super Kings, that creates an obvious storyline: new head coach Albie Morkel could potentially see the former captain return to the Bullring.

However, an auction does not guarantee a reunion. Du Plessis will be available to all participating franchises once bidding begins.

Wiaan Mulder and Rassie van der Dussen Also Available

The South African shortlist contains plenty of established international experience.

Wiaan Mulder is another notable name available after being released by Joburg Super Kings.

The all-rounder’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball gives him a different profile from specialist batters in the auction pool.

Rassie van der Dussen is also among the leading South African names.

The experienced top-order batter has played extensively across international and franchise cricket and brings a substantial amount of T20 experience to the auction.

Fast bowler Nandre Burger adds another major South African option for teams looking to strengthen their pace attack.

The U23 Battle Could Be One to Watch

The auction is not only about established international names.

Two Under-23 positions are available, creating an important pathway for younger South African cricketers.

Matthew Boast is one of the names attracting attention after previously commanding the joint-highest bid in the Season 2 auction.

Former South Africa Under-19 captain Jason Rowles is another player expected to feature prominently in the U23 conversation. Rowles has progressed through the South African youth system and was among the 156 players selected from the original 789 applicants.

The league’s development pathway will also be represented in the shortlist, with five Schools SA20 alumni included among the 156 players.

That group includes James Robb-Quinlan, Michael Kruiskamp, Jason Rowles, FG Botha and Janko Webb. Webb, at just 15, is the youngest player on the shortlist.

Trent Boult Leads the Overseas Names

The overseas section contains some serious franchise-cricket experience.

Trent Boult is arguably one of the most recognisable fast-bowling names available.

The New Zealand left-armer already has SA20 history, having played a role in MI Cape Town’s title-winning Season 3 campaign.

For franchises searching for a proven T20 strike bowler, Boult’s previous experience in South African conditions adds another layer to his profile.

Kieron Pollard Returns to the Auction Pool

Former West Indies captain Kieron Pollard is another major international name in the auction.

Pollard’s franchise career spans some of the biggest T20 competitions around the world, making his presence in the SA20 auction notable even at this stage of his career.

Other overseas names include:

• Shimron Hetmyer — West Indies
• Mohammad Nabi — Afghanistan
• AM Ghazanfar — Afghanistan
• Jordan Cox — England
• Rehan Ahmed — England
• Reece Topley — England
• Luke Wood — England
• Shamar Joseph — West Indies
• Richard Gleeson — England
• Aneurin Donald — England

The shortlist therefore contains a mixture of established T20 players, international cricketers and younger prospects.

Jordan Cox Has SA20 Experience

England wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox is particularly interesting because he already knows the competition.

Cox was part of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape squad that won the inaugural SA20 title and subsequently featured for Pretoria Capitals, who reached last season’s final.

His previous exposure to the competition could make him a familiar option for franchises assessing the overseas pool.

England also has the largest overseas contingent in the shortlist, with several players available despite established English stars such as Joe Root and Jos Buttler already being tied to franchises for Season 5.

Why the Auction Matters for SA20 Season 5

The Season 5 auction is smaller than last year’s event, but the financial stakes remain significant.

The first four SA20 auctions have already produced some major deals.

Tristan Stubbs became one of the headline stories of the inaugural auction when he secured a R9.2 million deal.

Last season, Dewald Brevis broke the auction record with a R16.5 million deal.

This year’s auction has a maximum purse of R35.025 million across 19 available slots, so another major bidding battle is possible even with fewer vacancies.

The final squad decisions could also have a significant impact on how the six franchises approach the opening stages of Season 5.

Which Teams Are in the Auction?

Four teams will participate on 7 October:

Joburg Super Kings

Six slots | R20.6 million remaining

JSK enter the auction with the largest purse and a new head coach in Albie Morkel.

Faf du Plessis and Wiaan Mulder are both available after being released, creating one of the more interesting potential reunion storylines of the auction.

MI Cape Town

Six slots | R9.35 million remaining

MI Cape Town also need six players and have significant room to strengthen their squad.

The franchise already has SA20 title-winning pedigree and will have an opportunity to add experience from the overseas pool.

Pretoria Capitals

Five slots | R1.475 million remaining

The previous season’s runners-up have five positions available but enter the auction with the smallest purse.

That makes the value of each signing particularly important.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape

Two slots | R3.6 million remaining

The defending champions only need two players to complete their squad.

With fewer vacancies, Sunrisers Eastern Cape can focus their remaining budget on specific areas rather than rebuilding a large portion of the squad.

When Is the SA20 Season 5 Auction?

The Betway SA20 Season 5 Player Auction takes place on Wednesday, 7 October 2026.

The auction starts at 17:00 South African time.

SA20 Auction broadcast times

• South Africa: 17:00 SAST — SuperSport
• India: 20:30 IST — JioStar
• United Kingdom: 16:00 BST — Sky Sports
• Pakistan: 19:30 PKT — Apex
• Australia: 23:00 AEDT — Fox Sports
• United States: 11:00 ET — Willow TV

The auction will also be streamed through the official SA20 YouTube channel, with rolling updates available through the league’s official digital platforms.

SA20 Season 5 Auction: What to Watch

The headline question is simple: where will the biggest names land?

Faf du Plessis’ next franchise will be one of the biggest talking points, while the availability of Mulder, van der Dussen and Burger gives South African teams several experienced options.

The overseas market provides even more variety, from Boult and Pollard to Hetmyer, Nabi, Cox and the younger Ghazanfar.

The two U23 places add another dimension, potentially creating a bidding battle between established international names and emerging South African talent.

With 19 slots available and R35.025 million still to spend, the SA20 Season 5 auction could provide another major chapter in the league’s rapidly developing player market.

SA20 Season 5 Auction FAQs

When is the SA20 Season 5 auction?

The Betway SA20 Season 5 Player Auction takes place on 7 October 2026.

How many players are in the SA20 auction?

There are 156 players on the final shortlist — 95 South Africans and 61 overseas players.

How many SA20 players will be bought?

There are 19 available squad positions across four franchises.

Which SA20 teams are not participating in the auction?

Durban’s Super Giants and Paarl Royals have already completed their 19-player squads and will not participate.

How much money is available at the SA20 auction?

The participating franchises have a combined maximum of R35.025 million remaining.

Is Faf du Plessis in the SA20 auction?

Yes. Faf du Plessis is among the South African players available for selection at the Season 5 auction.

Where can I watch the SA20 auction?

The auction will be broadcast on SuperSport in South Africa and streamed internationally through the relevant rights holders and the official SA20 YouTube channel.

Which overseas players are in the SA20 auction?

The overseas shortlist includes players such as Trent Boult, Kieron Pollard, Shimron Hetmyer, Mohammad Nabi, Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed, AM Ghazanfar and Shamar Joseph.

Bottom Line

The SA20 Season 5 auction may be smaller than last year’s event, but the combination of Faf du Plessis, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Trent Boult, Kieron Pollard and Shimron Hetmyer gives the event plenty of star power.

With 19 spots and R35.025 million available, the biggest question now is not whether there is talent in the pool — it is which franchises decide to spend their remaining budget and on whom.