By Zainab Shafiq 
The cricketing world is gearing up for one of the most anticipated events of the year as the SA20 2025-26 auction prepares to showcase a blend of legends, rising stars, and overseas talent. Scheduled for September 9, the draft features a staggering 541 players, with only 84 places available across the six franchises.
What makes this auction historic is not just the numbers, but the variety: from England’s 43-year-old pace maestro James Anderson to Afghanistan’s strong overseas contingent, and even a rare Nepalese entry, Dipendra Singh Airee. With only 25 slots reserved for overseas players, competition will be fierce.
Afghan Power at the Forefront
One of the most striking elements of the SA20 2025-26 auction is Afghanistan’s presence. A massive 19 Afghan cricketers, including the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim Janat, and Hashmatullah Shahidi, have thrown their names into the pool. Known for their explosive T20 flair, Afghanistan’s players are increasingly sought after for their power-hitting, mystery spin, and fearless attitude.
Meanwhile, Australia has just two names on the list, Peter Hatzoglou and D’Arcy Short, due to BBL overlap. In contrast, South Africa contributes the lion’s share with 300 players, including superstars Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Anrich Nortje. The franchises will also be keeping a close eye on promising Under-23 talent to meet squad balance rules.
The bidding wars could prove intense. Pretoria Capitals walk into the SA20 2025-26 auction with the largest purse at R32.5 million (USD 1.86m), while MI Cape Town carry the smallest kitty of R11.5 million (USD 0.65m). With franchises mandated to pick at least two Under-23 players, the youth factor adds another intriguing layer to the strategies.
Top Afghanistan Overseas Players in SA20 2025-26 Auction
| SR. NO. | PLAYER | COUNTRY | CLASS | U-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KARIM JANAT | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 2 | DAWLAT KHAN ZADRAN | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 3 | RAHMANULLAH GURBAZ | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 4 | ZAHIR KHAN PAKTEN | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 5 | NAVEENULHAQ MURID | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 6 | NANGEYALIA KHAN | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 7 | FAREED MALIK | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 8 | IZHARULHAQ NAVEED | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 9 | YAMA ARAB | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 10 | ARAB GUL | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 11 | WAQARULLAH ISHAQ | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 12 | WAQAR SALAMKHEIL | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 13 | SHARAFUDDIN ASHRAF | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 14 | HASHMATULLAH SHAHIDI | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 15 | FARIDOON DAWOODZAI | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 16 | WAFIULLAH TARAKHIL | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 17 | QAIS AHMAD | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 18 | HAZRATULLAH ZAZAI | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 19 | FARMANULLAH SAFI | AFGHANISTAN | OVERSEAS | |
| 20 | PETER HATZOGLOU | AUSTRALIA | OVERSEAS |
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