Piedt assures South Africa he is not taking Kolpak route

After the double blow of losing Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw to Kolpak deals, South Africa can console themselves with Russell Domingo’s assurance that offspinner Dane Piedt is not looking to go the same way.

Piedt has lost ground to left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj in South Africa’s Test plans and according to his agent Francois Brink was, “considering all options including Kolpak” a few weeks ago but Domingo denied that despite Brink saying that he had not stopped the search altogether.

“He said by no means was he ever signing Kolpak,” Domingo said. “He said he felt Cricket South Africa (CSA) have been really good to him.”

Piedt has played seven Tests between August 2014 and 2016, a period of time during which he also suffered a serious shoulder injury. He was out of action for several months but when he regained fitness was considered for national selection again and Domingo said Piedt was happy with the way he had been treated. “He was injured for a long period of time and we told him to go on an SA A tour, play well and then he will make it into the national side. He has done that,” Domingo said.

But he has not stayed there, prompting suggestions he may look for opportunity elsewhere. Piedt was not picked for the tour to Australia last November – left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi also went ahead of him as the second spinner – and was not considered for the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, primarily because the selectors feel he is too inconsistent. His average of 36.04 is one measure of that, Maharaj’s ability to tie up an end is another – he has an economy rate of 2.81 – but Domingo stressed that …

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