The decision by the Buildnat Cape Cobras to release their international off-spinner Dane Piedt on loan to the Multiply Titans for the remainder of the T20 Challenge tournament was motivated by their commitment to selflessly serve the national game, said Nabeal Dien, chief executive officer of the Cobras.
The Buildnat Cape Cobras on Monday agreed to release Piedt after the Western Cape-franchise received a request from the Titans.
Piedt, one of South Africa’s premier spinners who represented the Proteas in the test series against England and New Zealand in 2016, has been on the substitute bench at the Cobras during the T20 Challenge.
“We have made the decision to release Dane in the interests of South African cricket as GF Linde is preferred by the coaching staff in the T20-format.
“GF took 14 wickets in the 2014/2015-season when the Cape Cobras won the Ram Slam T20 Challenge. In this edition, he has nipped out five batsmen, including a match-winning 3-23 against the Warriors,” said Dien.
“Nkululeko Serame has been the second spinner in the group and his 2-19 at PPC Newlands on Friday tipped the scales in the Buildnat Cape Cobras’ favour.”
Piedt is the first-choice slow bowler for the Cape Cobras in the Sunfoil Series, and first served notice of his talent when he captured 45 wickets in the 2013/2014-season, including a hat-trick.
Subsequently, Piedt took 8-152 in his maiden test. He also struck with his first delivery in test cricket.
The 26-year old nabbed out 39 four-day wickets last season at a superb average of 22.33.
“What prompted us to release Dane on loan for the remainder of the T20 Challenge is our firm belief that the best players nationally should ply their trade on the field instead of occupying seats on the substitute bench,” Dien remarked.
“At the Cobras, we have an unsaturated thirst to add to the ten domestic titles we clinched the past eight seasons.
“Yet, as franchise we should never lose sight of the primary objective of being nurseries for national players, and to continually grow and advance their international careers in order to make South Africa the number-1 ranked team in the world,” Dien explained.
“Dane is a national asset and I have no doubt he will serve South Africa with distinction in many tests for several years.
“We are determined to utilize him upon the conclusion of the T20 Challenge. He will be a primary match-winning weapon in the 50-over and four-day series to propel us back to the summit of domestic cricket.”
Beresford Williams, chairman of the Western Cape Cricket board, said the board decided to release the star player to another member of the South African cricketing family for the greater good and benefit of the national game.
