The overnight millionaires of T20 Global League draft

On Sunday, August 27, the main player auction drafts of T20 Global League took place that saw 32 international players and 96 local players being picked up by the 8 participating franchises. Every franchise picked up 16 players each to make up their squad. Some of the local players have bagged hefty amounts and they have already become millionaires overnight.

There were 16 rounds of the draft pick and every round came in with different cash brackets. The first round saw the players pocketing the maximum amount of 1.75 million Rand (South African currency) and last couple of rounds saw the cricketers bagging the least of 130000 Rand. Every franchise spent a total of 11.7 million Rand on its players making the total amount of cash splashed up to 93.7 million Rand.

Young players cashing in huge amounts

Cricket South Africa planned to introduce a T20 Global League in a quest to arrest the players from going the ‘Kolpak’ way. However, the step seems to have worked in their favour as the cricketers have become millionaires overnight. The likes of Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Alex Hales were expected to be picked in the first round.

But the least known Dane Paterson and JJ Smuts too were scalped by the franchise in the first round itself. Both the cricketers have broken into the international arena not so long ago and this will infuse a huge amount of confidence in them. Paterson is now the most expensive player in the country which he would not have thought even in his dream.

The surprising picks were continued till the last round as the last player out of the hat, 29-year-old Kyle Nipper, was also picked. He has struggled throughout his career even to make it to the domestic sides. The cricketer will earn a more than enough mount now thanks to T20 Global League.

T20 Global League drafts (Noticeable picks)

Round 1 – R1.755 million (Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Dane Paterson, Colin Ingram, JJ Smuts)

Round 2 – R1.495 million (Vernon Philander, Aiden Markram, Farhaan Behardien, Tabraiz Shamsi)

Round 3 – R1.3 million (Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Vilas, Wayne Parnell)

Round 4 – R1.105 million (Lungi Ngidi, Shaun von Berg, Rassie van der Dussen, Bjorn Fortuin, Chris Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, Robbie Frylinck)

Round 5 – R975 000 (David Wiese, Aaron Phangiso, Temba Bavuma, Keshav Maharaj, Henry Davids)

Round 6 – R845 000 (Eddie Leie, Morne van Wyk, Dwaine Pretorius, Patrick Kruger, Johan Botha)

Round 7 – R780 000 (Pite van Biljon, Beuran Hendricks, Jason Smith, Junior Dala, Sisanda Magala, Vaughn van Jaarseveld, Wiaan Mulder)

Round  8 – R650 000 (Theunis de Bruyn, Leus du Plooy, Rudi Second, Qaasim Adams, Heino Kuhn, Justin Ontong)

Round 9 – R585 000 (Rory Kleinveldt, Duanne Olivier, Andrew Birch, Reeza Hendricks, Ryan McLaren)

Round 10 – R520 000 (Dean Elgar, Malusi Siboto, Jonathan Vandiar, Colin Ackermann)

Round 11 – R455 000 (Khaya Zondo, Roelof van der Merwe)

Round 12 – R390 000 (Sibonelo Makhanya, George Linde)

Round 13 – R325 000 (Basheeru Walters)

Round 14 – R260 000 (Craig Alexander, Dane Piedt, Calvin Savage, Daryn Dupavillon)

Round 15 – R130 000 (Motkozisi Shezi)

Round 16 – R130 000 (Cody Chetty, Kyle Nipper, Tshepo Moreki)