Dane Piedt Ends South Africa Career, Set To Move To The USA
Updated - 27 Mar 2020, 10:15 PM
Dane Piedt has brought down curtains on his South Africa in order to move to the USA. He will start his next journey in the coming days and will be in the USA to be a part of the new Minor League T20 tournament which is scheduled to take place this summer.
Dane Piedt, who played nine Tests for the Proteas, is hopeful of playing the 50-over World Cup albeit for the USA. The off-spinner intends to meet qualifying criteria to play for the USA national team and hopes to be part of their campaign to appear at the marquee event.
“The USA were given ODI status last year so it’s not completely out of the question,” Dane Piedt told ESPNcricinfo.
“I just signed the deal this morning but no-one really knows when I will be able to travel. It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up, financially and for lifestyle reasons, but it was still a tough decision to make,” he added.
To new beginnings ??… ? pic.twitter.com/XFZIOxC7z0
— Dane Piedt (@dane_piedt63) March 27, 2020
Along with South Africa, Dane Piedt has also ended his association with the Cobras franchise. The tweaker played for the Cobras throughout his career and is now gearing up for a new adventure.
“I’m a massive basketball fan, so that helps,” Dane Piedt said. “I will have a choice of four cities – New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Seattle – to live in but the rest will be a surprise.”
He further revealed that he has been taking tips from former Warriors seamer Rusty Theron. The pacer, who has been based in the USA for several years, helped the spinner secure the deal. He made his ODI debut for the country last year.
“He has given me some information, especially about the cricket scene there. It’s a decent set-up and I know they have some good cricketers like Xavier Marshall and a few Australians and Indians who played in national Under-19 teams and then moved,” said Dane Piedt.
The 30-year old took the decision after failing to cement his place in South Africa team. He was the leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket last summer and finished in the top 10 in the two seasons before that. But it did not help him earn good support from the Proteas who backed the likes of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.
“Shammo [Tabraiz Shamsi] has really made a mark in white-ball cricket and Keshav [Maharaj] has done exceptionally well for the Test side, he has done exactly what the team needs,” Dane Piedt said.
“And if you look at the schedule, South Africa are not due to tour the subcontinent again soon and that’s the only place where I might get a game,” he added.
Well, Dane Piedt is not totally wrong when he says that he has a realistic chance of getting an opportunity only if South Africa tour the subcontinent. South Africa had recalled him after three years for the series in India last September. He played in all the three Tests and managed to pick up just two wickets.
He was then dropped from the squad for the home series against England and also failed to secure a deal for the Mzansi Super League (MSL). Overall, he picked up 26 wickets for the Proteas in 9 Tests with one five-wicket haul.
