Joburg Super Kings sign Rowles for auction-high R2.9 million

Joburg Super Kings signed 18-year-old Jason Rowles for R2.9 million, making the South African prospect the most expensive player at the SA20 Season 5 auction, which concluded in Johannesburg on October 7. The franchise also brought back veteran batter Faf du Plessis for R2.7 million and signed West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard for R1.5 million. Rowles, a graduate of the Schools SA20 competition, drew bids from Joburg Super Kings and MI Cape Town before the Super Kings secured him. The auction accounts described him as the standout purchase and noted that his fee exceeded those paid for established players. No match performance can yet be assessed: the next season has not begun. Du Plessis, 42, returns to Joburg Super Kings after playing for the franchise in the first four SA20 seasons. His signing followed reported interest from MI Cape Town. Pollard was another major addition to the Super Kings squad. The auction also saw the franchise sign USA batter Andries Gous and Zimbabwe seamer Blessing Muzarabani, among other players. MI Cape Town signed South African allrounder Wiaan Mulder for R2.6 million and West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer for R1.5 million.