Sri Lankan youngsters Eshan Malinga and Vishen Halambage will feature in the upcoming season of South Africa’s premier T20 league.

The Paarl Royals franchise secured paceman Eshan Malinga’s services for 1 million South African Rand (approximately Rs. 17.3 million). 

The 20-year-old Vishen Halambage was also picked by the Paarl Royals franchise, which is owned by the Indian Premier League team Rajasthan Royals. 

The Royals paid Halambage 200,000 South African Rand at the auction. 

However, experienced Kusal Janith Perera, Maheesh Theekshana and Binura Fernando went unsold.

The auction for the fourth season of the SA20 was held yesterday (09) as several big names fetched massive bids. 

South Africa’s Dewald Brevis emerged as the most expensive player ever in the history of SA20 as he was sold for a whopping R16.5 million to Pretoria Capitals (PC). 

Both Joburg Super Kings (JSK) and Capitals were in an intense bidding war to acquire the services of the young batting sensation. However, it was Pretoria, who eventually managed to outbid everyone.  

Aiden Markram attracted the second highest bid at the auction, being sold for R14 million to Durban Super Giants (DSG).

All-rounder Wiaan Mulder emerged as the third most expensive player at the auction, being bought by Super Kings for R9 million. Apart from him, Gerald Coetzee (R7.4 million to DSG), Nandre Burger (R6.3 million to JSK), Matthew Breetzke (R6.1 million to SEC), Rassie van der Dussen (R5.2 million to MI Cape Town), Ottneil Baartman (R5.1 million to Paarl Royals) and Anrich Nortje (R5 million to SEC) were the other notable buys.

Meanwhile, notable unsold players included South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo and Junior Dala, alongside international names such as Mustafizur Rahman James Anderson and Moeen Ali.