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Centurion - The Titans acquired the temporary services of the South African off-spinner Dane Piedt, who was released on loan by the Cape Cobras to the Hennops River squad for the remainder of the T20 Challenge competition on Monday.
Nabeal Dien, the chief executive officer of the Cape Cobras, said the board approved of the request by the Titans to release Piedt because it offered the slow bowler an opportunity to ply his trade in the shortest format and lifted the national standard of the game.
“At the Cobras, we gave preference to the T20 skills of GF Linde, who captured 14 wickets in the 2014/2015-season when we won the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, and Nkululeko Serame, who since his debut, has made strides and captured 2/19 on Friday to lift the Cobras to a win against the Warriors.
“Despite our unwavering commitment to secure domestic titles, the national cause deserves preference and releasing Dane would undoubtedly assist him in his quest to return to the front of the queue in the national team,” said Dien.
Jacques Faul, chief executive officer of the Titans, applauded the decision by the Cape Cobras to release Piedt on loan until the end of the domestic T20-series.
Faul said the decision by the Cobras’ board and by their chief executive officer, Dien, and the board exemplify their commitment to the greater South African cause.
Piedt first came to prominence in the 2013/2014-season, capturing 45 Sunfoil Series wickets which included a hat-trick against the Dolphins.
“I do think the decision to release him is a selfless gesture and underpins the philosophy of the Cobras to primarily enhance the state of South African cricket.
“They want the best players in the country to be on the park and to ply their trade against stars of the same magnitude. That is why the decision to release Dane is appreciated so much,” Faul said.
“Like the Cobras, we have always believed in releasing players when we knew they would add value to the standard of the national competitions. It has never been a symbol of rejection but a token of respect for the greater good of South African cricket.”
“The Titans are currently in a healthy state and still unbeaten, but our reserve-strength will be bolstered by the availability of Piedt.
“He is an attacking off-spinner who can genuinely turn the ball prodigiously, and when his variations are thrown into the mix, he can be devastating and mesmerising,” Faul said.
“Dane is a national asset and still a vital part of our attack in the One Day Cup competition and the Sunfoil Series,” said Dien. “Last season, he bowled magnificently in the domestic 50-over competition to power us to the final. He used an attacking off-stump line and captured quite a few wickets with his Carrom ball.
“We know he can emulate and even eclipse that form in both competitions when he returns in December. His stint for the Titans is a win/win-scenario. The Titans bolster the reserve-strength in the T20-competition and the national competition is served by his release to them. And upon his return, we at the Cobras gain a spinner who has spent time in the middle,” Dien added.
