SA20 Auction Creates Big Buzz

The term mega-auction belongs to the IPL, but the Betway SA20 Season 4 player auction is set to be the biggest in the league’s short history. With 84 squad spots up for grabs, the competition is tipped to be bigger and better than ever.

South Africa T20 league batsmen Dewald Brevis and Aiden Markram both fetched eye-watering sums, with the former being the first player to break the R10 million barrier. He was purchased by Sourav Ganguly-coached Pretoria Capitals, who beat competition from Joburg Super Kings to secure the 22-year-old.

Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi was another name that attracted plenty of interest, and he was eventually snapped up by Paarl Royals for a record fee of R4.3 million. The left-arm wrist spinner is an asset in a spin-friendly league like SA20, where his ability to vary his pace to confuse batters can transform games.

The omission of England allrounder Moeen Ali was a surprise, although it’s likely his age and impending exit from Test cricket played a part in his non-purchase. His presence would have boosted interest and ticket sales.

The auction also saw a number of debutants, including left-arm spinner Kwena Maphaka (Joburg Super Kings), resurgent fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, teenage allrounder Lizaad Williams and left-arm seamer Nandre Burger. There were also 16 players from the USA, eight Dutch players including a new-look Roelof van der Merwe and four Namibians including captain Gerhard Erasmus, plus two Scottish players and Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee.