Earlier in the week, the Proteas marquee players were announced, however, the Cape Town Blitz, sees Quinton de Kock replacing JP Duminy at the team. Duminy was ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury.

Round one of the draft generated the most interest, and it was the Giants that got proceedings underway by picking the Proteas all-rounder, Chris Morris. The Spartans followed with Lungi Ngidi, while the Blitz went with Andile Phehlukwayo. The Rocks with went with spin in the form ofTabraiz Shamsi, while the Stars picked the wicketkeeper, Dane Vilas and with was no surprise when the Heat selected David Miller.

There was a general trend throughout the draft that the South African franchises were selecting largely their own local players.

Pite van Biljon, Duanne Olivier and Eddie Leie (all at the Stars), Ryan McLaren and Rudi Second (Giants), Patrick Kruger (Rocks), were the only VKB Knights players drafted.

The MSL will start on 16 November, and the final is scheduled to be contested on 16 December.

Cape Town Blitz - Quinton de Kock, Dawid Malan (England), Andile Phehlukwayo, Dale Steyn, Samuel Badree (Windies), Asif Ali (Pakistan), Farhaan Behardien, Anrich Nortje, Janneman Malan, Malusi Siboto, George Linde, Ferisco Adams, Jason Smith, Sibonelo Makhanya, Kyle Verreynne (rookie), Dane Piedt.

Durban Heat - Hashim Amla, Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Kyle Abbott (kolpak), Keshav Maharaj, Khaya Zondo, Albie Morkel, Marchant de Lange (kolpak), Vernon Philander, Brandon Mavuta (Zimbabwe), Temba Bavuma, Morne van Wyk, Okuhle Cele (rookie), Sarel Erwee, Tladi Bokako.

Jozi Stars - Kagiso Rabada, Chris Gayle (Windies), Dane Vilas (kolpak), Rassie van der Dussen, Daniel Christian (Australia), Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Eddie Leie, Pite van Biljon, Duanne Olivier, Ryan Rickelton, Sinethemba Qeshile (rookie), Simon Harmer (kolpak), Calvin Savage, Alfred Mothoa.

Nelson Mandela Bay Giants - Imran Tahir, Jason Roy (England), Chris Morris, Jon-Jon Smuts, Junior Dala, Christiaan Jonker, Aaron Phangiso, Ben Duckett (England), Sisanda Magala, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Dyllan Matthews (rookie), Lizaad Williams, Rudi Second, Carmi le Roux.

Paarl Rocks - Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo (Windies), Tabraiz Shamsi, Dane Paterson, Aiden Markram, Mangaliso Mosehle, Bjorn Fortuin, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Grant Thomson, Paul Stirling (Ireland), Tshepo Moreki, Henry Davids, Cameron Delport (kolpak), Eathan Bosch (rookie), Patrick Kruger, Kerwin Mungroo.

Tshwane Spartans - AB de Villiers, Eoin Morgan (England), Lungi Ngidi, Robbie Frylinck, Jeewan Mendis (Sri Lanka), Theunis de Bruyn, Rory Kleinveldt, Sean Williams (Zimbabwe), Gihahn Cloete, Lutho Sipamla (rookie), Tony de Zorzi (rookie), Dean Elgar, Andrew Birch, Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Shaun von Berg, Eldred Hawken.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport