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The countdown to the Betway SA20 Season 4 Auction has begun, and all eyes are on the record-breaking R41 million salary cap, now officially the highest in any franchise T20 league outside of the IPL. With such staggering sums in play, the 2025 SA20 auction is expected to deliver fierce bidding wars and some jaw-dropping paydays when it takes place in Johannesburg on 9 September 2025.
The fourth season of South Africa’s premier T20 competition kicks off on 26 December 2025 and runs until 25 January 2026. With squad rules tightened and only six players allowed as pre-signings or retentions per team, franchises have a lot of ground to cover, and 72 player slots will be up for grabs. Each team can retain a maximum of three South Africans and three overseas players, with the rest to be picked during the live auction.
Auction Format and Spending Rules
The auction will proceed as usual with players entering with a base reserve price, and teams allowed to splurge within the R41-million salary cap. Additionally, each team is allowed one Wildcard signing, which can be a local or overseas player and won’t count against the salary cap. That opens the door for blockbuster late deals.
A new twist this season is the Right to Match (RTM) Card, giving teams the ability to reclaim a player they had in Season 3 if another team wins the bid. The number of RTM cards available will depend on how many local players a team has pre-retained.
Youth & Local Talent Still in Focus
In a change from previous years, the Rookie Draft has been scrapped, and instead, each franchise is required to sign at least two Under-23 South African players. This ensures that even as the money grows, the league’s long-term commitment to local talent remains intact.
Source: https://www.sa20.co.za/season-4-auction
The fourth season of South Africa’s premier T20 competition kicks off on 26 December 2025 and runs until 25 January 2026. With squad rules tightened and only six players allowed as pre-signings or retentions per team, franchises have a lot of ground to cover, and 72 player slots will be up for grabs. Each team can retain a maximum of three South Africans and three overseas players, with the rest to be picked during the live auction.
Auction Format and Spending Rules
The auction will proceed as usual with players entering with a base reserve price, and teams allowed to splurge within the R41-million salary cap. Additionally, each team is allowed one Wildcard signing, which can be a local or overseas player and won’t count against the salary cap. That opens the door for blockbuster late deals.
A new twist this season is the Right to Match (RTM) Card, giving teams the ability to reclaim a player they had in Season 3 if another team wins the bid. The number of RTM cards available will depend on how many local players a team has pre-retained.
Youth & Local Talent Still in Focus
In a change from previous years, the Rookie Draft has been scrapped, and instead, each franchise is required to sign at least two Under-23 South African players. This ensures that even as the money grows, the league’s long-term commitment to local talent remains intact.
Source: https://www.sa20.co.za/season-4-auction
