Kyle Abbott returns to South Africa with white-ball contract

South African Kyle Abbott is all set to return to South Africa who had left due to a Kolpak deal signed with Hampshire in 2017. He has now signed a contract with the Titans ahead of the One-Day Cup, starting on Saturday, January 9. Abbott completed three seasons in England, taking 182 wickets at an average of 18.63 in the County Championship.

The South African players who featured in the county championship as overseas players are now eligible to play for their country as the United Kingdom is no more a part of the European Union. Hence all the Kolpak registrations have been terminated. Now with the travel restrictions imposed in the country, it will be difficult to continue his stint with the Hampshire.

2020 was a tough year: Kyle Abbott

“I think the reputation of the Titans speaks for itself. The trophy cabinet is pretty full and to contribute in a competition like this, and hopefully put another trophy on that shelf, will be awesome,” Kyle Abbott said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Mandla Mashimbyi, Titans head coach heaped praises on Kyle Abbott. He claimed that he’s an experienced bowler and the youngsters in the camp will get a lot of exposure and also will get inputs on how to be composed in pressure situations.

“It just gives you a level of comfort, knowing that you can actually go and ask what to do in pressure situations. To have somebody like him is a no-brainer,” said the Titans coach.

The tournament will kick start on January 09, Saturday with the Dolphins taking on the Titans at the Potchefstroom. The whole tournament will be played in a single venue which will be Potchefstroom for bio-security reasons. Abbott has only played two top-level games of cricket since December 2019 – for Jaffna Stallions in the Lanka Premier League – but is set to feature in the Titans’ opening One-Day Cup fixture against the Dolphins, his old franchise, on Saturday.