South African batsman Hashim Amla is among the four men to have attracted the highest base price of about 3.8 million rand (20,000,000 rupees) ahead of the Indian Premier League player auction, which will be held in Bangalore on 16 February.

Amla, who scored a superb century in Wednesday’s fifth and final ODI against the West Indies, is accompanied by Indian duo Yuvraj Singh – and the South African-born Kevin Pietersen – in the lucrative category.

Karthik and Pietersen have been let go by the Delhi Daredevils after a disappointing 2014 IPL, while the Royal Challengers have not retained Singh. Amla has never played in the popular Twenty20 tournament, which is entering an eighth season.

‘It’s about more than money,’ the Times quoted Amla’s agent Ismael Kajee as saying, late last year.

‘It’s about balancing your life between your work and your family. It’s not that Hashim has anything against T20 cricket or the IPL or any of the other competitions, it’s that the guy needs a break.

‘No-one can say that money doesn’t mean anything, but it is the least of Hashim’s priorities. Who knows, things could change with Hashim, especially if the number of matches IPL teams play decreases.’

Proteas all-rounders Wayne Parnell and Albie Morkel, meanwhile, have been released by Delhi and Bangalore respectively. The veteran Jacques Kallis, this week named Player of the Tournament in Australia’s Big Bash League, has been hired by the Kolkata Knight Riders as a mentor and batting consultant.