Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Marsh, Root, Curran headline star-studded SA20 season five signings
The SA20 is a cricket tournament in South Africa where six teams play fast, exciting matches.
Before each new season, the teams choose which players will join them.
This news is about the player choices for season five.
Famous cricketers like Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root, Sam Curran and Phil Salt are joining different teams.
Mitchell Marsh will play for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape for the first time.
Sam Curran is switching teams, moving to Durban's Super Giants.
Two teams already have all 19 players they need, so the other teams have fewer spots to fill.
The remaining players will be picked at an auction on October 7.
Some famous players, like Faf du Plessis, have been released and will be available for other teams to choose.
The season starts on January 17, 2027, and the final game will be in Cape Town on February 21.
International stars Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Jason Holder and Phil Salt headline pre-auction signings for SA20 season five.
Marsh will make his SA20 debut for three-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape, joining Quinton de Kock and captain Tristan Stubbs.
Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals are the only teams with full 19-player rosters, leaving 19 slots for the October 7 auction.
Joburg Super Kings released former skipper Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir and signed Jason Holder, while MI Cape Town dropped Trent Boult, Rassie van der Dussen and Kieron Pollard.
Season five runs from January 17, 2027 at St George's Park in Gqeberha to the February 21 final at Newlands in Cape Town.
- Who
- The six SA20 franchises, marquee signings such as Mitchell Marsh, Joe Root, Sam Curran, Jason Holder and Phil Salt, and released players including Faf du Plessis, Jonny Bairstow and Trent Boult.
- What
- Franchises announced pre-auction retentions and signings for SA20 season five, with Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals completing full 19-player squads.
- When
- Announced on Wednesday; auction set for October 7; season runs January 17 to February 21, 2027.
- Where
- South Africa — opener at St George's Park in Gqeberha, final at Newlands in Cape Town.
- Why
- To finalize rosters ahead of the season five auction, which League Commissioner Graeme Smith described as the league's strongest yet.
- League
- SA20 - Season 5
- Auction Date
- October 7 (19 available slots)
- Season Start
- January 17, 2027, St George's Park, Gqeberha (Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Pretoria Capitals)
- Final
- February 21, 2027, Newlands, Cape Town
- Full Rosters
- Durban's Super Giants and Paarl Royals (19 players each)
- Vacant Slots
- Joburg Super Kings 7 (one report says 6), MI Cape Town 6, Pretoria Capitals 5, Sunrisers Eastern Cape 2
- Notable Releases
- Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Jonny Bairstow, Trent Boult, Rassie van der Dussen, Kieron Pollard
- League Commissioner
- Graeme Smith
Sources
Marsh Joins SEC, Sam Curran Returns With DSG as SA20 Season 5 Franchises Unveil Star-Studded Pre-Auction Squads
SA20 2027: Mitchell Marsh joins Sunrisers Eastern Cape; Sam Curran shifts base from MI Cape Town to Durban Super Giants
Mitchell Marsh, Root, Curran headline pre-auction signings of SA20 squads before upcoming season
