League: Cricket
The SA20 players’ auction for the 2025 season took place in Cape Town on Tuesday, as all six franchises sought to complete their squads.
With only 13 slots available, a total of 188 players from South Africa and around the world registered for the auction. The players were categorized into batters, wicketkeepers, all-rounders, fast bowlers and spin bowlers, and presented before the franchises by renowned auctioneer Richard Madley.
The biggest splash of the auction was made by MI Cape Town, who acquired the services of South African opener Reeza Hendricks for a whopping R4.3 million. Hendricks, known for his aggressive batting style, is expected to be a key player for MI Cape Town in the upcoming season.
Other notable acquisitions included England pacer Richard Gleeson and West Indies’ left-handed batter Evin Lewis. Both players are expected to add significant value to their respective teams.
A day after the auction, Joburg Super Kings announced their wildcard player for the upcoming SA20 season, selecting the talented Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana. Pathirana has been representing Joburg’s sister franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is now expected to make a significant impact in the SA20.
Several prominent names, including South African captain Temba Bavuma and top-order batter Tony de Zorzi, did not find buyers during the auction.
*Prices are in South African Rand