SA20 Auction: Tristan Stubbs pockets highest bid, Temba Bavuma goes unsold in first edition

SA20 Auction: Tristan Stubbs attracts highest bid, Temba Bavuma goes unsold in first edition of South Africa T20 League. Full squads, players, captain and top most expensive buys at South Africa T20 League.

Stubbs becomes costliest player in first edition of SA20 League (Photo: ©Getty Images/Twitter)

The inaugural edition of South Africa’s T20 league (SA20) is expected to not only stabilise the financial condition of South African cricket but also going to offer a global platform for the local South African players to showcase their talents further in their career.

Surprises and disappointments cover maiden SA20 Auction

The maiden auction for SA20 was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on September 19, and it turned out to be an eventful exercise for the team owners and all others involved with some exciting signs highlighting each of the six franchise’s players list.

The biggest disappointment of the day was South Africa’s T20I captain for the upcoming ICC World T20 2022, Temba Bavuma going unsold in three rounds. On the other end of the spectrum, 22-year-old three dimensional player Tristan Stubbs earned the highest bid of 9.2 million South African Rands in the auction.

Let’s take a look at the top five highest/Costliest bids at the SA T20 auction.

Players	Franchise	Base Price (in Rands)	Bidding Price (In Rands)	Bidding Price (INR)
Tristan Stubbs	Sunrisers Eastern Cape	175K	9.2 Mn	Rs. 4,13,71,404.75
Rille Rossouw	Pretoria Capitals	850K	6.9 Mn	Rs. 3,10,28,358.87
Marco Jansen	Sunrisers Eastern Cape	175K	6.1 Mn	Rs. 2,74,45,516.50
Wayne Parnell	Pretoria Capitals	175K	5.6 Mn	Rs. 2,51,95,884.00
Donavan Ferreira	Johannesburg Super Kings	175K	5.5 Mn	Rs. 2,47,70,355.50

*1 USD = 17.67 South African Rand

Indian players not part of SA20 franchises bought by owners of IPL teams

The most surprising part of the whole auction was to see Indian players not in that auction even after all the six franchises being bought by owners of franchises that participate in the prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL). It is such a shame that some of the top-class Indian players who want to prove themselves by playing in leagues around the world or those who could earn a few nice paychecks are being robbed of the opportunity.

It is still quite uncertain as to what may be the real reason behind this decision, but it feels like that the Board of Control for Cricket Council in India (BCCI) are obstinate and obnoxious in their decision that no Indian player could be part of leagues apart from IPL.

A total of 314 players were offered to go under the hammer while 80 places were up for grabs for the six franchises. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from the SA20 Auction.

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David Miller to Captain Paarl Royals in South Africa T20 League (Images: ©BCCI/IPL)

Buttler and Roy expected to open for Paarl Royals

Paarl Royals, the sister franchise of IPL team Rajasthan Royals (RR) had already contracted Jos Buttler, Obed McCoy, David Miller and Corbin Bosch before the auction. Adding England’s Jason Roy means he could open the innings with Buttler.

The Royals began the day by picking up fast bowler Lungi Ngidi for ZAR 3.4 million besides making a good signing instantly thereafter, by picking up former top-ranked T20I spinner Tabraiz Shamsi for *ZAR 4.3 million. The big boundaries in Paarl will help him and left-arm finger spinner Bjorn Fortuin.

Paarl Royals Squad

David Miller (Captain), Corbin Bosch, Jos Buttler, Obed McCoy, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jason Roy, Dane Vilas, Bjorn Fortuin, Wihan Lubbe, Ferisco Adams, Imraan Manack, Evan Jones, Ramon Simmonds, Mitchell van Buuren, Eoin Morgan, Codi Yusuf

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du Plessis to Captain Johannesburg Super Kings in SA20 League (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

From Spin to Pace: Johannesburg Super Kings change their DNA

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) owners who also herald the Johannesburg Super Kings (JSK) in the SA20 have changed their DNA from spin to pace packing their attack with the latter variety to squeeze up the advantage of their home ground, Wanderers Stadium.

JSK spent ZAR 2.10 million on West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph who has been in terrific form in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Their pre-auction signings of Maheesh Theekshana, Gerald Coetzee and Romario Shepherd will be powered by the newly added players like Lizaad Williams, George Garton and Lewis Gregory.

The batting department will be managed by captain Faf du Plessis, Harry Brook, Janneman Malan and Reeza Hendricks.

Johannesburg Super Kings (JSK) Squad

Faf du Plessis (Captain), Gerald Coetzee, Maheesh Theekshana, Romario Shephard, Harry Brook, Janneman Malan, Reeza Hendricks, Kyle Verreynne, George Garton, Alzarri Joseph, Leus du Plooy, Lewis Gregory, Lizaad Williams, Donavon Ferreira, Nandre Burger, Malusi Siboto, Caleb Seleka

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Dewald Brevis to represent MI Cape Town in SA20 League (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

Powerful MI Cape Town rope in Rassie vand der Dussen, Odean Smith

The MI Cape Town, the sister franchise of Mumbai Indians (MI) was already a powerful unit with their pre-auction signings in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rashid Khan, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone.

Their first picked player on the auction day was South Africa player Rassie van der Dussen for ZAR 3.9 million. At the same price tag, the Cape Town based franchise pocketed George Linge and Duan Jansen, whose twin brother Marco Jansen was a part of the Mumbai Indians family in the IPL.

They also grabbed 20-year-old Afghanistan left-arm wrist-spinner Waqar Salamkheil to back up Rashid Khan. The only question will be around the captaincy choice of the side.

MI Cape Town Squad

Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rashid Khan, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Delano Potgieter, Grant Roelofsen, Wesley Marshall, Olly Stone, Waqar Salamkheli, Ziyaad Abhrahams, Odean Smith

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Marco Jansen is the third most expensive by in SA20 auction (Images ©BCCI/IPL)

Sunrisers Eastern Cape made the highest bidding for Tristan Stubbs

Sunrisers Eastern Cape began the auction with the most expensive bidding for Tristan Stubbs whom they bought for ZAR 9.2 million before adding lanky pace-bowler Marco Jansen for ZAR 6.1 million.

“Yeah, I mean it’s crazy and I’m still shaking,” Stubbs expressed to the host broadcasters. “It’s crazy! I played most of my cricket in St George’s and I really enjoy playing cricket there.”

Before the auction, the Sunrisers had Aiden Markram and Ottniel Baartman. In an intense bidding war with the Super Kings, the Eastern Cape franchise snatched Sisanda Magala for ZAR 5.4 million. The inclusion of veteran JJ Smuts who can be used as a batting all-rounder was a decent buy as well.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Squad

Aiden Markram, Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Sisanda Magala, Junaid Dawood, Mason Crane, JJ Smuts, Jordan Cox, Adam Rossington, Roelof van der Merwe, Marques Ackerman, James Fuller, Tom Abell, Ayabullela Gqamane, Sarel Erwee, Brydon Carse

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Rille Rossouw is second most expensive by in SA20 Auction (Images: ©AFP/Getty Images)

Pretoria Capitals made some wise selections

Pretoria Capitals began the day with the biggest purse and they needed to made some wise inclusions in the team. They signed the explosive batter Rilee Rossouw with the second highest bid of ZAR 6.9 million. They also displayed late interest in signing the left-arm pace bowler Wayne Parnell for ZAR 5.6 million.

In the bowling department, the pre-auction signing of Anrich Nortje who is perhaps the fastest pacer in the world right now is expected to breathe fire into their attack. In the spin department, they also have the experience of England’s Adil Rashid.

Pretoria Capitals Squad

Anrich Nortje, Migael Pretorius, Rilee Rossouw, Phil Salt, Wayne Parnell, Josh Little, Shaun von Berg, Adil Rashid, Cameron Delport, Will Jacks, Theunis de Bruyn, Kusal Mendis, Marco Marais, Daryn Dupavillon, Jimmy Neesham, Eathan Bosch, Shane Dadswell

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QDK to represent Durban Super Giants in SA20 League (Images: ©BCCI/IPL)

Durban Super Giants crafted their squad with dynamic players

The Durban Super Giants who are the sister franchise of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) from the IPL made notable signings before the auction. With the likes of Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Quinton de Kock, they have made some valuable dynamic selections.

Heinrich Klaasen (ZAR 4.5 million) and Dwaine Pretorius (ZAR 4.1 million) were the other two players bought by the Duban Super Giants. Keshav Maharaj will provide them with a good spin bowling option while Johnson Charles who has been in a purple patch in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has also found a place with the south-western port city based franchise.

Durban Super Giants Squad

Quinton de Kock, Prenelan Subrayen, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers, Reece Tropley, Dwaine Pretorius, Heinrich Klaasen, Keemo Paul, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Abbott, Junior Dala, Dilshan Madushanka, Johnson Charles, Matthew Breetzke, Christiaan Jonker, Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer

*ZAR (abbreviation for rand in forex markets)

The inaugural edition of SA20 is expected to kick off from the first week of January in 2023.

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