Five West Indians picked for South Africa T20 inaugural

West Indies' Odean Smith, right, plays a shot during the third one day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.
West Indies’ Odean Smith, right, plays a shot during the third one day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Ahmedabad, India, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.
Associated Press/Ajit Solanki/File
Five West Indians were picked when  a total of 314 players went under the hammer in an the inaugural South Africa T20 League (SA20) auction, bringing to nine the number of Caribbean cricketers chosen for the January – February 2023 tournament.
Antigua fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was the most expensive buy of the five, sold to Johannesburg Super Kings for US$118, 353.
West Indies’ batsman Jermaine Blackwood, left, kneels as his batting partner, Alzarri Joseph, walks off after being dismissed for 86 runs against New Zealand during play on day four of their cricket Test in Hamilton, New Zealand, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport via Associated Press/File

The franchise had signed all rounder Romario Sheppard before last Monday’s auction.

Jamaica all rounder Odean Smith was the only West Indian acquired by MI Cape Town. He went for US $95, 810 in the auction.
All rounder Kemp Paul of Guyana and St. Lucian wicket keeper/ batsman, Johnson Charles will join previously drafted Barbadian Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers at Durban Super Giants. Paul and Charles US were brought for US $905, and US$23, 952, respectively.
Vincentian left-arm fast bowler, Obed McCoy, who was selected before the auction by Parral Royals. There will be no West Indian player turning out for Pretoria or Sunrisers Eastern Cape Town.
Among the West Indies Players on the auction list who went unsold were Carlos Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Ramdin King, Jayden Seales, Lendel Simmons, Jayden Walsh Jnr. and Shane Hope.