SA20 Sets Date For Season Four Auction - Increases In Salary Cap, and Sets New Player Guidelines

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 26 Jun 2025

Brad Newcomb 26 Jun 2025

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SA20 Season Four player auction on September 9, 2025.
Teams have an increased budget of R41 million.
Introduction of Right to Match (RTM) cards at the auction.
The Under-23 Quota replaces the rookie draft.
Teams can retain six players and sign a wildcard outside the salary cap.

Aiden Markram has led the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to three consecutive SA20 finals, winning the competition twice (Getty Images)

The countdown to the fourth edition of the SA20 has officially begun with the announcement of the player auction set to take place on 9 September 2025.

Team Salary Increase For SA 20 Season Four
Right To Match Cards
Under-23 Quota Replaces The Rookie Draft

The Sunrisers Eastern Cape, Durban's Super Giants, MI Cape Town, Paarl Royals, Joburg Super Kings, and the Pretoria Capitals will have an opportunity to recruit from a pool of 72 player slots at this year's auction.

Teams are allowed to retain six signings before the auction—three domestic and three international players. Additionally, each side may sign a wildcard player—local or overseas—outside of the franchise's salary cap.

Team Salary Increase For SA 20 Season Four

The upcoming season will see each franchise receive a R41 million squad budget—a 2 million increase from the previous season, making the SA20 the most lucrative T20 competition outside of the IPL in India.

Right To Match Cards

The SA20 will introduce the Right to Match (RTM) cards at this year's auction, permitting each franchise to retain a player from its squad in season three by equalling the winning auction bid placed on him by another team.

Under-23 Quota Replaces The Rookie Draft

The SA20 have decided to discontinue the rookie draft; instead, each franchise must include at least two players under the age of 23 in their final 19-player squad for the season.