South Africans attract highest prices at T20 tournament auction

South Africans attracted the highest prices while several leading international players went unsold at the SA20 Twenty20 tournament auction in Cape Town on Monday.

Rising star Tristan Stubbs was bought by Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who paid R9.2 million for the middle-order batter to play in the event next January and February.

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Sunrisers also paid the second-highest price of R6.9 million for batsman Rilee Rossouw.

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SA20 commissioner and former South Africa star Graeme Smith said the aim was to make the new league the second most popular in the world behind the Indian Premier League (IPL).

All six South African franchises are controlled by Indian owners of IPL teams, although no Indian players are available.

Tall allrounder Marco Jansen went to the Pretoria Capitals for R5.6 million.

Several leading players, including England white-ball captain Jos Buttler, England allrounder Liam Livingstone and Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan had been signed before the auction along with South Africa stars Kagiso Rabada, David Miller, Faf du Plessis and Anrich Nortje.

South Africa T20 captain Temba Bavuma did not attract any bids, nor did test skipper Dean Elgar.

A total of 80 players were sold, with 53 South Africans and 27 overseas players setting the stage for the January 2023 event.