Cape Town – The Proteas have lost yet another international to a Kolpak agreement after the Titans announced on Monday that all-rounder David Wiese has signed a three-year contract with Sussex.
Wiese’s move was mooted over the weekend, and the 31-year-old confirmed the news on the Titans’ website. Chief executive Jacques Faul said in a statement that Wiese won’t be lost to the franchise, though, as he will continue to play for them in the South African summer.
He becomes the third local player in the last week to make the shift to English county cricket following the dramatic announcements by Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw (both Hampshire) last week.
Media reports have surfaced that fast bowler Marchant de Lange – who has two Test, four ODI and six T20 international caps – could also sign a Kolpak deal with Glamorgan.
“I am very excited to be joining Sussex on a long-term deal. I thoroughly enjoyed my stint with the club last year, and it made my decision so much easier when offered to return. Sussex is an extremely ambitious club and I look forward to being part of their future,” Wiese said on the county’s website.
“I would like to thank Cricket South Africa for giving me the opportunity of fulfilling my lifelong dream of representing my country in the sport I love.”
Wiese – who didn’t have a Cricket SA national contract – played in six one-day internationals, but it was in the T20 format that he was more effective with his array of cutters and changes of pace, as well as some big hitting towards the end of the innings.
But now he won’t feature for the Proteas in the upcoming limited-overs games against Sri Lanka. “David’s decision to sign a Kolpak-deal for Sussex is indeed a sad day for us at the franchise and for South Africa,” Faul said.
“It is sad because we obviously pride ourselves in being a successful conveyor belt for international players. South Africa are losing the services of a match-winning all-rounder, whose tremendous straight-hitting and masterful change of pace make him an asset to any team.
“Yet we are indebted to David because he has been very frank with us from the start, and he has handled the whole process with professionalism and integrity. He has also committed himself to represent the Titans for the rest of his career. He is a whole-hearted performer and a dedicated human being who commands the utmost respect.”