Written By: Alex Maathai

The fourth season of SA20, the top franchise T20 competition in South Africa, is scheduled to start in 2026. With appearances by both rising South African youth and foreign giants, the competition has swiftly established itself as a major event on the nation’s cricket calendar. The 2026 season will begin earlier, on December 26, 2025, in contrast to the January start dates of the previous three editions. The ICC T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026, is the reason for this change in the calendar.

SA20 2026
Source: ESPNCricinfo

Cricket South Africa (CSA) introduced the SA20 League, the nation’s premier T20 franchise competition, in 2022 with the goal of reviving domestic cricket and drawing attention to the T20 scene in the world. The SA20 league was designed after other major leagues, such as the Indian Premier League, and consists of six franchises owned by groups identified among SA20 club owners who have connections to Indian Premier League teams. The competition has rapidly gained popularity among fans, attracting both top local and international talent.

SA20 League Schedule

The SA20 2026 schedule table, which includes match dates, teams, and venues, is available here.

Match No.DateMatchStadium Time (GMT/Local)
126 Dec 2025MI Cape Town vs Durban’s Super GiantsNewlands, Cape Town15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
227 Dec 2025Pretoria Capitals vs Joburg Super KingsSuperSport Park, Centurion11:00 GMT / 13:00 Local
327 Dec 2025Paarl Royals vs Sunrisers Eastern CapeBoland Park, Paarl15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
428 Dec 2025Durban Super Giants vs MI Cape TownKingsmead, Durban13:30 GMT / 15:30 Local
529 Dec 2025Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Pretoria CapitalsSt George’s Park, Gqeberha15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
630 Dec 2025Durban Super Giants vs Joburg Super KingsKingsmead, Durban15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
731 Dec 2025Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Paarl RoyalsSt George’s Park, Gqeberha11:00 GMT / 13:00 Local
831 Dec 2025MI Cape Town vs Pretoria CapitalsNewlands, Cape Town15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
91 Jan 2026Joburg Super Kings vs Durban’s Super GiantsThe Wanderers, Johannesburg15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
102 Jan 2026Paarl Royals vs MI Cape TownBoland Park, Paarl15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
113 Jan 2026Joburg Super Kings vs Sunrisers Eastern CapeJohannesburg11:00 GMT / 13:00 Local
123 Jan 2026Pretoria Capitals vs Durban Super GiantsCenturion15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
134 Jan 2026MI Cape Town vs Paarl RoyalsNewlands, Cape Town13:30 GMT / 15:30 Local
145 Jan 2026Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern CapeCenturion15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
156 Jan 2026MI Cape Town vs Joburg Super KingsNewlands, Cape Town15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
167 Jan 2026Durban Super Giants vs Pretoria CapitalsKingsmead, Durban15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
178 Jan 2026Joburg Super Kings vs Paarl RoyalsJohannesburg15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
189 Jan 2026Durban Super Giants vs Sunrisers Eastern CapeKingsmead, Durban15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
1910 Jan 2026Paarl Royals vs Pretoria CapitalsBoland Park, Paarl11:00 GMT / 13:00 Local
2010 Jan 2026Joburg Super Kings vs MI Cape TownJohannesburg15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2111 Jan 2026Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Durban Super GiantsSt George’s Park, Gqeberha13:30 GMT / 15:30 Local
2212 Jan 2026Pretoria Capitals vs MI Cape TownCenturion15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2313 Jan 2026Paarl Royals vs Durban Super GiantsBoland Park, Paarl15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2414 Jan 2026Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs Joburg Super KingsSt George’s Park, Gqeberha15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2515 Jan 2026Pretoria Capitals vs Paarl RoyalsCenturion15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2616 Jan 2026MI Cape Town vs Sunrisers Eastern CapeNewlands, Cape Town15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2717 Jan 2026Durban Super Giants vs Paarl RoyalsKingsmead, Durban11:00 GMT / 13:00 Local
2817 Jan 2026Joburg Super Kings vs Pretoria CapitalsJohannesburg15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
2918 Jan 2026Sunrisers Eastern Cape vs MI Cape TownSt George’s Park, Gqeberha13:30 GMT / 15:30 Local
3019 Jan 2026Paarl Royals vs Joburg Super KingsBoland Park, Paarl15:30 GMT / 17:30 Local
21 Jan 2026Qualifier 1TBA15:30 GMT / Local TBA
22 Jan 2026EliminatorTBA15:30 GMT / Local TBA
23 Jan 2026Qualifier 2TBA15:30 GMT / Local TBA
25 Jan 2026FinalTBA13:30 GMT / Local TBA

SA20 League – Teams and Squads

Each of the six competing teams in the SA20 League represents a major city in South Africa. The 2026 SA20 season auction took place in Johannesburg. Dewald Brevis became the most expensive player in the history of the competition after the Pretoria Capitals picked him for R16.5 million (INR 8.4 crore). Following the conclusion of the bidding process to fill 84 spots among six teams, the squads are positioned as follows in anticipation of the league’s fourth season:

MI Cape Town: Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, Ryan Rickleton, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Nicholas Pooran, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Tristan Luus, Jason Smith, Tom Moores, Dane Piedt, Tian van Vuuren, Dan Lategan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Karim Janat, Jacques Snyman.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Jonny Bairstow, AM Ghazanfar, Adam Milne, Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Anrich Nortje, Senuran Muthusamy, Patrick Kruger, Lutho Sipamla, Mitchell van Buuren, Jordan Hermann, Beyers Swanepoel, James Coles, Chris Wood, Lewis Gregory, CJ King, JP King.

Joburg Super Kings: Faf du Plessis, Donovan Ferreira, James Vince, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson, Wiaan Mulder, Nandre Burger, Prenalen Subrayen, Dian Forrester, Steve Stolk, Janco Smit, Neil Timmers, Shubham Ranjane, Brandon King, Rilee Rossouw, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Imran Tahir, Reece Topley.

Pretoria Capitals: Andre Russell, Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Dewald Brevis, Lizaad Williams, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Codi Yusuf, Connor Esterhuizen, Bryce Parsons, Gideon Peters, Junaid Dawood, Will Smeed, Meeka-eel Prince, Bayanda Majola, Wihan Lubbe, Sibonelo Makhanya.

Paarl Royals: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, David Miller, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Sikandar Raza, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Ottneil Baartman, Gudakesh Motie, Delano Potgieter, Kyle Verreynne, Keagan Lion-Cachet, Asa Tribe, Hardus Viljoen, Jacon Johannes Basson, Dan Lawrence, Eshan Malinga, Nqobani Mokoena, Vishen Halambage, Nqaba Peter.

Durban’s Super Giants: Noor Ahmad, Heinrich Klaasen, Sunil Narine, Jos Buttler, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Devon Conway, Gerald Coetzee, David Bedingham, Marques Ackermann, Eathan Bosch, Andile Simelane, Tony de Zorzi, Dayyaan Galiem, Taijul Islam, Evan Jones, Gysbert Wege, David Wiese, Daryn Dupavillon.

SA20 League Winners Over the Years

Three fantastic seasons have been successfully concluded by SA20, each with a passionate model that produced entertaining matches, great fan involvement, and the appearance of international T20 talent. The league has rapidly become a dominant force in franchise cricket. As one of the most reliable teams in the league’s brief existence, 

Sunrisers Eastern Cape made a significant impression by winning the SA20 title in two straight seasons, including the competition’s first year. Throughout the competition, the squad showed incredible spirit under the direction of seasoned South African Aiden Markram.

SA20 League Winners Over the Years
Source: Cricbuzz

Rashid Khan was MI Cape Town’s captain, and his leadership was essential to the team’s victory in the 2025 SA20. With contributions from bowlers and hitters alike, the team’s combined effort enabled MI Cape Town to win their first-ever SA20 championship, demonstrating the squad’s depth and outstanding collaboration throughout the competition.

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Conclusion: SA20 2026 Schedule And Teams

South Africa’s top T20 league, the 2026 season, is expected to provide yet another thrilling episode. Starting on December 26, 2025, the season will begin. The six competing teams that continue to showcase a mix of elite local and foreign talent are part of this season’s updated program.  With hard-hitting matches and high-caliber performances anticipated, SA20 2026 looks to be another spectacular season that solidifies the league’s place among the most exhilarating T20 tournaments in cricket worldwide.

About the Author

Alex Maathai is a Cape Town-based cricket analyst and former club-level player. With deep knowledge of domestic structures and Proteas history, he provides context-rich insights that connect today’s matches to South Africa’s cricket legacy.

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