Klassen smiles all way to bank

BIG MONEY: SEVERAL PROTEAS FETCH HEFTY AMOUNTS

- Jacques van der Westhuyzen

Big-hitting middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen will be South Africa's most expensive player at next year's Indian Premier League, but several other Proteas stars will also be smiling all the way to the bank.

Following the two-day mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 16 South Africans have found a home in next year's IPL.

The competition will start on 14 March and conclude on 2 May.

Klaasen, who was retained by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, was purchased for R49.3 million, making him one of the most expensive players in the competition.

Tristan Stubbs, the only other Proteas player retained by his team from last season, will also be a happy man after collecting R21.4 million from the Delhi Capitals.

In this year's mega auction, franchises were allowed to retain only six players out of their full squad sizes of 25.