Dane Piedt ends South Africa career to pursue USA World Cup dream 

The 30-year-old off-spinner played nine Tests for the Proteas.

By Kashish Chadha - 28 Mar, 2020

Off-spinner Dane Piedt ended his South Africa career in order to move to the USA and play the new Minor League T20 tournament, due to be launched this summer in the states. 

The 30-year-old, who played nine Tests for the Proteas, intends to meet the qualifying criteria to play for the USA and also hopes to be part of country's first-ever ODI World Cup campaign one day. 

Read Also: Cricket South Africa curtails its 2020-21 domestic season to cut costs

“The USA were given ODI status last year so it’s not completely out of the question,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Piedt as saying.

“I just signed the deal this morning but no-one really knows when I will be able to travel," he added, pointing out at the lockdown in South Africa because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up, financially and for lifestyle reasons, but it was still a tough decision to make."

The major reason behind Piedt's move is the lack of opportunities available to play for his home country. 

"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," he 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."

USA qualified for the seven-team ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, which is part of the qualification pathway towards the next ODI World Cup in 2023 in India. 

The league's upcoming fixtures were postponed because of the deadly outbreak. USA is currently second in the points table following six victories, six defeats in its first twelve games of the 36 each team will be playing to contest for the top three slots and book a ticket to the global qualifier in March 2022. 

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)

By Kashish Chadha - 28 Mar, 2020

TAGS