SA20 unveils star-studded Season 5 squads

All six SA20 franchises have confirmed their retained and pre-signed players ahead of Season 5, with the remaining 19 slots to be filled at the Player Auction on 7 October.

Australia’s T20I captain Mitchell Marsh headlines the announcements. Marsh is set to make his SA20 debut for triple champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape alongside 2026 Player of the Season Quinton de Kock.

The pair will feature in the tournament opener against Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park on 17 January, where fellow Australian Matthew Short will make his own SA20 debut for the Capitals.

#BetwaySA20 Season 5 squads are taking shape 👀

Curran & Markram at DSG
Holder & Ferreira at JSK
Jacks & Rabada at MICT
Root & Miller at Royals
Salt & Ngidi at Capitals
Marsh & de Kock at Sunrisers

International firepower meets SA’s finest.
Teams as they stand before the 7 Oct… pic.twitter.com/yO37mowYh6

— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) August 5, 2026

Centurion crowds will also see the return of England’s Phil Salt to the Capitals, now ranked fourth on the ICC T20I batting list, alongside Sherfane Rutherford, Dewald Brevis and Proteas T20I Player of the Year Lungi Ngidi.

Paarl Royals and Durban’s Super Giants have opted to lock in their full 19-player rosters before the auction. The Royals retain newly reappointed Test captain Joe Root, who returns for a second spell alongside Ottneil Baartman, David Miller and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

Durban’s Super Giants add England all-rounder Sam Curran, who returns to the league after two seasons in Cape Town, joining Aiden Markram, Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine and Heinrich Klaasen.

MI Cape Town have pre-signed Will Jacks after three seasons with Pretoria Capitals, joining Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Nicholas Pooran at Newlands.

Joburg Super Kings add West Indies pair Jason Holder and Akeal Hosein to a squad already featuring James Vince, Donovan Ferreira and Dian Forrester.

JSK and MI Cape Town head into the auction with the most work to do, each needing to fill six vacancies including an Under-23 spot.

Pretoria Capitals have five slots open and Sunrisers Eastern Cape two, while every franchise has filled its overseas pre-signed quota bar Joburg’s remaining Wildcard option.

Season 5 begins at St George’s Park on 17 January 2027, with the final at Newlands on 21 February.

FULL STORY

Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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