The Cape Cobras are to lose their long-standing internationals Robin Peterson and Justin Kemp and three other members of their squad at the end of the season.

While veteran all-rounder Justin Kemp will retire, Peterson will move to the Knights, where, he feels, he may have more game time after being restricted at the Cobras by the emergence of such players as Dane Piedt and GF Linde. Cut from the squad are Shaheen Khan, Mthokozisi Shezi and Sybrand Engelbrecht from their contract list.

Kemp, now 38, has played first-class cricket for nearly 20 years, during which he played four Tests, 85 ODIs and eight T20s. He will, at least, have the complete freedom to join such adventures as the Masters Champions T20 League, where he appeared for the Gemini Arabians in this year’s inaugural edition.

Peterson, too, turned out for the Leo Lions, much to chagrin of Cricket SA. The left-arm spinner, who has 15 Test caps and 79 ODI appearances,  hit top form recently, taking 9-150 against the  Highveld Lions in Paarl, including a five-for in the first innings.

But the Cobras have struggled in the domestic first-class arena this season, winning just two matches out of eight so far. They fell woefully short in the Momentum One-Day Cup final and went out in the semi-finals of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

There has been no announcement of any replacements.

Khan and Shezi will apparently head back to Kwa-Zulu Natal, where they began their cricket careers. Khan had already been on loan there for half of this season after recovering from a stress fracture of the back.