Indian Players Absent from SA20 International Auction Roster

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) The absence of Indian players in the international auction roster for the SA20 league continues, with League Commissioner Graeme Smith labeling the situation as "fluid." A total of 241 overseas players will vie for 25 slots, while 308 South African hopefuls aim for 59 places in the upcoming SA20 2025-26 auction, to be held on September 9 in Johannesburg.

Smith, speaking to Indian media via a virtual interaction, noted the uncertain nature of Indian participation hinges on player retirements and availability. He mentioned, "There were about 13 or 14 Indian players in the auction," referencing those who had registered, such as Piyush Chawla, Siddharth Kaul, and others, but none made it to the final list. The BCCI maintains a policy limiting the participation of active Indian cricketers in overseas leagues to retain the IPL’s exclusivity. Retired players must obtain an NOC from the Board for international ventures.

Ravichandran Ashwin, recently retired from IPL, has opted for UAE’s ILT20. Smith shared insights into the auction process, explaining that initial candidate lists are shared with franchises, who then return their shortlisted preferences, forming the roster for the auction. He views this year’s process as a pivotal reset after three years of the tournament.

Addressing the lack of Indian players in global T20 leagues, Smith stated, "It's not a new phenomenon. However, Indian viewership remains significant for SA20." Dinesh Karthik, having retired from Indian cricket, participated in SA20 this year with Paarl Royals, marking a notable exception.

Among the international entrants, former England pacer James Anderson stands out, having returned to T20 cricket recently. Notables like Moeen Ali and Alex Hales join him among 96 English players in the auction. Meanwhile, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly will lead Pretoria Capitals as head coach, offering his iconic approach to turn their fortunes around following a challenging season.

Smith credited SA20 for bolstering South African cricket significantly. Highlighting their achievements, he cited the ICC World Test Championship win over Australia at Lord's and recent ODI series triumphs against Australia and England, attributing success to the emerging young talents.

He drew parallels with the IPL's transformative impact on Indian cricket, noting a burgeoning rock base and escalating fan engagement in South Africa. Smith added, "We are seeing crowds returning, new fans, and a deeper, high-performance talent pool."

The SA20 season four is slated to open on December 26, with defending champions MI Cape Town facing Durban's Super Giants, culminating with the final at Newlands on January 25.

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