SA20 2026: Franchises Limited to Just Six Player Retentions for Next Season
orangeevaThe SA20 2026 auction is scheduled for September 9. This year’s auction will feature a significant portion of the player pool, as teams will only be allowed to retain six players each—the lowest retention limit in the league’s brief history. As a result, nearly two-thirds of the player pool will be up for grabs in the auction for the tournament’s fourth edition.
A total of 72 player slots will be available, which accounts for 63% of the 108 total spots across the six franchises. Despite this, the squad structure remains unchanged: each team can have up to seven overseas players and must include at least 11 local players.
There’s also an update to the salary cap. Previously set at INR 39.1 million (approximately US$2.2 million), it has now been increased to INR 41 million (around US$2.31 million). Additionally, each franchise is allowed to sign one wildcard player whose salary will not count towards the cap.
With this increase, SA20 now holds the distinction of having the second-highest salary cap among T20 leagues worldwide—trailing only the Indian Premier League (IPL). It’s worth noting that SA20 franchises are owned by the same groups that own IPL teams.
Franchises to Use Right to Match (RTM) Cards in SA20 2026 Auction
In the upcoming SA20 2026 auction, franchises will be permitted to use Right to Match (RTM) cards. This allows teams to match the highest bid for any player who was part of their squad in Season 3. The number of RTM cards available to each franchise will depend on how many South African players they choose to retain.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has also announced the cancellation of the rookie draft. As a result, all teams must now sign at least two players under the age of 23.
Additionally, the SA20 2026 will begin a month earlier than usual. The tournament is scheduled to start on December 26, 2025, and conclude on January 26, 2026. Traditionally held from January to mid-February, the shift is due to the absence of Test matches in South Africa’s calendar during that period. From 2027 onwards, however, the league will return to its original time slot.
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