Joburg Super Kings release Faf du Plessis ahead of SA20 2027 auction
Joburg Super Kings have released Faf du Plessis from their squad ahead of the SA20 2027 auction, as franchises prepare for the tournament's fifth edition due to begin in January 2027. The auction is scheduled for October 7, 2026, and teams are finalising retained and pre-signed player lists ahead of that date.
Sunrisers Eastern Cape enter the upcoming competition as reigning champions after winning the previous edition, their third title in four seasons, beating Pretoria Capitals in the final. All six SA20 franchises have confirmed retained and pre-signed players, with several sides making unexpected decisions while assembling squads. A total of 19 squad slots remain to be filled across five franchises; Paarl Royals and Durban Super Giants are among those that have already finalised their rosters.
Joburg Super Kings must still add six players to complete their squad, the joint-most number of vacancies among the franchises. Alongside the decision to release Faf du Plessis, the Super Kings have also released Wiaan Mulder, Nandre Burger and Daniel Worrall as they reshape their roster ahead of the auction.
Faf du Plessis, 42, has been a member of the Joburg Super Kings since the inaugural SA20 season and served as the team's captain for four seasons. Under his captaincy, the Super Kings played 40 matches and recorded 16 victories.
As the franchise's leading run-scorer in the SA20, du Plessis accumulated 1,029 runs in 40 matches at an average of 32.15 and a strike rate of 143.19, including one century and seven half-centuries. Those figures remain his recorded tournament statistics with the Super Kings.
Elsewhere in the player movements, Kieron Pollard was named among the notable departures. MI Cape Town have parted ways with the all-rounder, and the franchise has also released Trent Boult and Rassie van der Dussen.
The remaining 19 squad slots across five franchises are set to be decided at the SA20 auction on October 7, 2026, which will precede the fifth edition of the tournament beginning in January 2027.