Joburg Super Kings, Durban Super Giants, Paarl Royals announce retentions for SA20 2025

SA20 franchises Joburg Super Kings, Durban Super Giant and Paarl Royals have announced their retentions ahead of the 2025 edition of the South Africa-based T20 tournament, Joburg Super Kings will be led once again by Faf du Plessis after the Wanderers-based team announced their retention list for SA20 2025 on August 1.

Du Plessis has been a stellar performer for the Super Kings, scoring 608 runs at an average of 35.76 and strike-rate of 145.10, over the past two seasons. It includes the first-ever SA20 century and a further five half-centuries. Du Plessis is ranked sixth on the list of all-time SA20 run-scorers - only 18 runs behind his JSK opening partner Leus du Plooy, who has also been retained. Du Plooy has amassed 626 runs in 19 innings at an average of 44.71 and strike rate of 149.76. 

The Super Kings have also added the serious firepower of England’s Jonny Bairstow to their batting line up in 2025. Bairstow arrives at the Wanderers with a wealth of experience that includes winning the 2019 ICC Men's ODI World Cup and a number of seasons playing in the Indian Premier League.

Sri Lanka mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana will also return to the Bullring for a second stint after turning out for JSK in Season 1. Theekshana will form part of a potent spin arsenal with JSK retaining veteran leg-spinner Imran Tahir and Englishman Moeen Ali. They have further boosted their spin threat by trading all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem to the Paarl Royals in exchange for enigmatic wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. The Super Kings have left no stone unturned by ensuring their fast bowling attack also remains well stocked with the retention of left-arm speedster Nandre Burger, ever-dependable Lizaad Williams and the fiery Gerald Coetzee.

They will be backed up by the all-round skills of former Namibian international David Wiese and batters Sibonelo Makhanya and Donovan Ferreira.

Also read: MI Cape Town announce preliminary squad for SA20 2025

Joburg Super Kings retentions for SA20 2025

Faf du Plessis (captain), Leus du Plooy, Imran Tahir, David Wiese, Donovan Ferreira, Moeen Ali, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Sibonelo Makhanya.

Pre-signed overseas: Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka), Jonny Bairstow (England)

Trade-in: Tabraiz Shamsi (from Paarl Royals, for Dayyaan Galiem)

Durban's Super Giants have also announced a star-studded retention list after reaching last season’s final for the first time. The Super Giants have assembled a squad that will aim to go one step further. The arrival of New Zealand superstar Kane Williamson along with West Indian opener Brandon King and England all-rounder Chris Woakes had added a great deal of quality to the squad. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will also return to Kingsmead after his cameo last season as the Season 3 Wildcard. He will certainly look to make a major impact after recently being named in the official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament for his dynamic performances with bat and ball in the Caribbean.

Afghanistan seam bowler Naveen-ul-Haq is also back in the Super Giants’ blue and green after a successful ICC Men’s T20 World Cup where he took 13 wickets at 26.4 to spearhead the Afghans to their first-ever major tournament semi-final. His Afghan compatriot Noor Ahmad, who replaced Sri Lankan speedster Dilshan Madushanka last season, has also been retained. The 19-year-old claimed the first five-for of Season 2 when he bagged 5/11 against the Paarl Royals and will look to produce similar performances next year.

SA20 Season 2 Player of the Tournament Heinrich Klaasen headlines the list of locally retained players that includes captain Keshav Maharaj, Prenelan Subrayen, Dwaine Pretorius, Jon-Jon Smuts, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Matthew Breetzke, Jason Smith and Quinton De Kock. Last season’s Rookie Bryce Parsons has also been retained and the youngster will no doubt look to open his DSG account this coming season.

Also read: SA20 2025: Sunrisers Eastern Cape retain core of back-to-back championship winning squad

Durban Super Giants retentions for SA20 2025

Keshav Maharaj (captain), Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan), Matthew Breetzke, Junior Dala, Quinton De Kock, Wiaan Mulder, Naveen-ul-Haq (Afghanistan), Bryce Parsons, Dwaine Pretorius, Jason Smith, Jon-Jon Smuts, Prenelan Subrayen.

Pre-signed overseas: Brandon King (West Indies), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Chris Woakes (England).

Wildcard: Marcus Stoinis (Australia)

Meanwhile, Paarl Royals have injected a vibrant energy into their squad with the retention of an impressive group of young players. The Boland Park-based team have placed their faith in last season’s Rookie signings Nqaba Peter and Lhuan-dre Pretorius along with 18-year-old fast bowling sensation Kwena Maphaka. Leg-spinner Peter replaced Pretorius ahead of Season 2 after the hard-hitting opening batter was called up to the South Africa U19 squad for the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup. Maphaka is also yet to feature for the Royals after teaming up with Pretorius at the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup. The left-arm seamer enjoyed a spectacular competition where he claimed 21 wickets that saw the St Stithians prodigy announced as Player of the Tournament.

Peter made his Royals debut against the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in St George’s Park last season where he was handed the pressure-filled final over by captain David Miller. The 21-year-old benefited tremendously from the exposure as he went on to achieve great heights in the Cricket SA T20 Challenge.

Peter claimed 20 wickets at an average of 9.50 that earned him a Proteas T20 International debut in the series against the West Indies in the Caribbean.Royals, who have reached the playoffs in both previous SA20 seasons, have retained a further seven South African players, headlined by Proteas-capped players Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin and Andile Phehlukwayo. They have also retained middle-order batter Mitchell van Buuren, seamer Codi Yusuf and all-rounder Keith Dudgeon.Yusuf was also recently called up to the South Africa ‘A’ squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka ‘A’.

Royals have also executed the third trade (and their second) within SA20 history with former Joburg Super Kings all-rounder Dayyaan Galiem heading to Boland Park with experienced spinner Tabraiz Shamsi joining the Super Kings.

"We are delighted to go into the upcoming auction with a very formidable core of capped and uncapped South African players. After the disappointment of last season where we faltered towards the latter stages of the tournament, it was important to re-look at the squad and make certain changes. We believe this core has varied attributes and will serve as a solid base, which will further be complemented by the players we sign at the auction," said Royals' Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara.

"At the same time, there were multiple difficult decisions we had to make considering the balance of our side, including letting go of someone like Tabraiz Shamsi, who made significant contributions to the franchise over the past couple of seasons," added Sangakkara.

Paarl Royals South African retentions for SA20 2025

David Miller (captain), Keith Dudgeon, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Mitchell van Buuren, Codi Yusuf.

Pre-signed overseas: Joe Root (England)

Trade-in: Dayyaan Galiem (from Joburg Super Kings, for Tabraiz Shamsi)