The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that players from the country will be permitted to play in the SA20 league, despite missing the initial main player auction.
Pakistani cricketers were formerly already committed to playing for their country against the West Indies during January, when the SA20 league is set to commence, but that tour has since been postponed.
Despite players not featuring in the main auction, Graeme Smith, comissioner of the SA20 league, confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that the competition would now feature a wildcard pick for teams, allowing Pakistan players to be picked up prior to its commencement.
"We are introducing a wildcard pick," Smith said.
"Post the World Cup, we will allow teams to pick one other player. From a league perspective, we don't get involved with selection. The teams go to the market and pick."
533 players featured in the main player auction, which was held in September, with the competition start date booked in for January 10, set to run through to February.
The BBL (Australia), BPL (Bangladesh) and ILT20 (UAE) will all run at the same time as the new South African competition.
