Today we will discuss the salary of a SA20 player in South Africa.
After years of failing to develop a T20 league, it looks like South Africa finally have a competition that will survive (with the help of the IPL franchises, of course).
However, with Test match tour to NZ being deprioritized due to SA20, there is one question in everyone’s mind: just how much do these players make?
SA20 Salary – By the Numbers
- The average salary of a South Africa T20 League (SA20) player is $110,000 (maximum 19 players in the squad with a maximum purse of 39.1 million South African Rands or $2.09 Million USD). The salary cap in the 2024 SA20 season increased from R. 34 million to R. 39.1 million.
- The maximum salary cap for the entire SA20 was $12.55 Million, for a maximum of 114 players, divided among 6 teams.
- Compared to other leagues, the SA20 ranks at #3 in the richest cricket leagues (according to average salaries).
The South Africa T20 League (SA20) – What is the Average SA20 Salary?
*Note: The amounts shown below are average auction prices. Since pre-auction signing salaries are undisclosed, some of those players are probably earning much higher amounts since the average salary of a SA20 player is $110,000.
Also, the wildcard picks have a minimum salary of R. 175,000, but this can be outside the salary purse.
| SA20 Team | Average Auction Salary Amounts |
| Durban Super Giants | $86,550 |
| Joburg Super Kings | $98,640 |
| MI Cape Town | $63,270 |
| Paarl Royals | $71,620 |
| Pretoria Capitals | $95,200 |
| Sunrisers Eastern Cape | $106,030 |
We use the conversion, $1 USD = 18.69 South African Rand (as of 1/7/2024)
SA20 Auction Picks – Salary of South Africa League T20
Now we summarize the salaries for each team based on both the 2023 SA20 Auction as well as the 2024 mini-auction.
If you’re interested in learning about the 2023 major auction as it happened, check this article on the Key Takeaways from the 2023 SA20 Auction.
Note: For replacements, we show the price the original player was auctioned for.
1. Durban Super Giants Player Salaries
- Average DSG Auction Price: $86,550 (about $1,038,600 spent on 12 players)
Total Number of Squad Players: 18
- Most Expensive Player: Dwaine Pretorius ($219,000)
Pre-Auction Picks: Quinton de Kock, Kyle Mayers, Reece Topley, Prenelan Subrayen, Naveen-ul-Haq, Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Wildcard: Nicholas Pooran
| Player | SA20 Salary (in South Africa Rands) | SA20 Salary (in USD $) |
| Keshav Maharaj | R. 2,500,000 | $134,000 |
| Heinrich Klaasen | R. 4,500,000 | $240,000 |
| Matthew Breetzke | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Keshav Maharaj | R. 2,500,000 | $134,000 |
| Wiaan Mulder | R. 1,900,000 | $102,000 |
| JJ Smuts | R. 2,300,000 | $123,000 |
| Dwaine Pretorius | R. 4,100,000 | $219,000 |
| Keemo Paul | R. 850,000 | $45,000 |
| Tony de Zorzi* (replaced Kyle Abbott) | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Junior Dala | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Jason Smith | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Bryce Parsons | R. 75,000 | $4,000 |
2. Joburg Super Kings Player Salaries
- Average JSK Auction Price: $98,640 (about $887,800 spent on 9 players)
Total Number of Squad Players: 19
- Most Expensive Player: Donovan Ferreira ($294,000)
Pre-Auction Picks: Faf du Plessis, Gerald Coetzee, Moeen Ali, David Wiese, Sam Cook, Zahir Khan, Romario Shepherd
Wildcard: Imran Tahir, Kyle Simmonds* (replaces Aaron Phangiso, who was the 2023 wildcard)
| Player | SA20 Salary (in South African Rands) | SA20 Salary (in USD $) |
| Reeza Hendricks | R. 4,500,000 | $240,000 |
| Donovan Ferreira | R. 5,500,000 | $294,000 |
| Leus Du Plooy | R. 1,500,000 | $80,000 |
| Nandre Burger | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Wayne Madsen | R. 850,000 | $45,000 |
| Lizaad Williams | R. 325,000 | $17,400 |
| Sibonelo Makhanya* (replaces Harry Brook) | R. 2,100,000 | $112,000 |
| Dayyaan Galiem | R. 1,600,000 | $86,000 |
| Ronan Hermann | R. 75,000 | $4,000 |
3. MI Cape Town Player Salaries
- Average MI Cape Town Auction Price: $63,270 (about $759,200 on12 players)
Total Number of Squad Players: 19
- Most Expensive Player: Rassie van der Dussen, George Linde ($209,000)
Pre-Auction Picks: Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Rashid Khan* (Kieron Pollard will replace him), Tom Banton
Wildcard: Jofra Archer* (Nuwan Thushara replaces Archer)
| Player | SA20 Salary (in South African Rands) | SA20 Salary (in USD $) |
| Rassie van der Dussen | R. 3,900,000 | $209,000 |
| Ryan Rickelton | R. 1,000,000 | $53,500 |
| Grant Roelofsen | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Delano Potgieter | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Olly Stone | R. 850,000 | $45,000 |
| George Linde | R. 3,900,000 | $209,000 |
| Beuran Hendricks | R. 275,000 | $14,700 |
| Duan Jansen | R. 3,300,000 | $177,000 |
| Christopher Benjamin | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Neelan van Heerden | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Thomas Kaber | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Connor Esterhuizen | R. 75,000 | $4,000 |
4. Paarl Royals Player Salaries
- Average PR Auction Price: $71,620 (about $931,000 spent on 13 players)
Total Number of Squad Players: 19
- Most Expensive Player: Tabraiz Shamsi ($230,000)
Pre-Auction Picks: David Miller, Jos Buttler, Obed McCoy, Kwena Maphaka
Wildcard: Fabian Allen, Andile Phehlukwayo (2023)
| Player | SA20 Salary (in South African Rands) | SA20 Salary (in USD $) |
| Jason Roy | R. 1,500,000 | $80,000 |
| Wihan Lubbe | R. 350,000 | $18,700 |
| Mitchell van Buuren | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Dane Vilas | R. 3,300,000 | $177,000 |
| Lungi Ngidi | R. 3,400,000 | $182,000 |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | R. 4,300,000 | $230,000 |
| John Turner | R. 425,000 | $22,700 |
| Lorcan Tucker | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Ferisco Adams | R. 325,000 | $17,400 |
| Evan Jones | R. 1,700,000 | $91,000 |
| Bjorn Fortuin | R. 1,500,000 | $80,000 |
| Codi Yusuf | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius | R. 75,000 | $4,000 |
5. Pretoria Capitals Player Salaries
- Average PC Auction Price: $95,200 (about $1,142,400 spent on 12 players)
Total Number of Squad Players: 18
- Most Expensive Player: Rilee Rossouw ($370,000)
Pre-Auction Picks: Migael Pretorius, Anrich Nortje, Jimmy Neesham, Corbin Bosch (Paarl Royals earlier), Colin Ingram* (signed as replacement in 2023)
Wildcard: Phil Salt, Senuran Muthusamy (2023)
| Player | SA20 Salary (in South African Rands) | SA20 Salary (in USD $) |
| Eathan Bosch | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Wayne Parnell | R. 5,600,000 | $300,000 |
| Rilee Rossouw | R. 6,900,000 | $370,000 |
| Will Jacks | R. 1,100,000 | $59,000 |
| Kyle Verreynne | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Theunis de Bruyn | R. 1,000,000 | $53,500 |
| Shane Dadswell | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Paul Stirling | R. 425,000 | $22,700 |
| Adil Rashid | R. 2,400,000 | $128,000 |
| Matthew Boast | R. 1,600,000 | $86,000 |
| Daryn Dupavillion | R. 1,700,000 | $91,000 |
| Steve Stolk | R. 75,000 | $4,000 |
6. Sunrisers Eastern Cape Player Salaries
- Average SEC Auction Price: $106,030 (about $1,272,300 spent on 12 players)
Total Number of Squad Players: 18
- Most Expensive Player: Tristan Stubbs ($492,000)
Pre-Auction Picks: Aiden Markram, Ottniel Baartman, Dawid Malan, Liam Dawson
Wildcard: Craig Overton, Jordan Hermann (2023)
| Player | SA20 Salary (in South African Rands) | SA20 Salary (in USD $) |
| Temba Bavuma (replaces Tom Abell) | R. 850,000 | $45,000 |
| Tristan Stubbs | R. 9,200,000 | $492,000 |
| Sarel Erwee | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Adam Rossington | R. 425,000 | $22,700 |
| Marco Jansen | R. 6,100,000 | $326,000 |
| Sisanda Magala | R. 5,400,000 | $289,000 |
| Brydon Carse | R. 425,000 | $22,700 |
| Simon Harmer | R. 200,000 | $10,700 |
| Ayabulela Gqamane | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Caleb Seleka | R. 175,000 | $9,400 |
| Beyers Swanepoel | R. 600,000 | $32,000 |
| Andile Simelane | R. 75,000 | $4,000 |
Final Thoughts
2024 is the year where international cricket calendar might finally crash.
The inaugural seasons of SA20, ILT20, and MLC were all a huge season. Now, there is virtually no open space in the international calendar.
The SA20, with its backing from the IPL franchises, will ensure South African cricketers make a decent living, but it may come at the expense of international cricket.
Is it worth it? Can the leagues and international cricket co-exist? What is the solution?
So many questions. What do you say? Comment Below! For now, we can go and enjoy good cricket in the SA20.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Salary of South Africa T20 League (SA20) player
The average salary for a SA20 player is about $110,000. Teams had a salary purse of 39.1 Million Rands or $2.09 Million for a maximum of 19 players in their squads. 
No, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the richest cricket league in the world. The SA20 (South African T20 League) is the 3rd richest league by average player salaries.
Tristan Stubbs (R. 9,200,000 or $492,000) is the most expensive player in the SA20 competition.
© Copyright @Nitesh Mathur and Broken Cricket Dreams, LLC 2023. Originally published on 12/16/2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Broken Cricket Dreams with appropriate and specific direction to the original content (i.e. linked to the exact post/article).
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