Batsman Pieter Malan has been handed a Cobras contract as one of many exciting additions to the squad for the 2017-18 season.

Malan’s selection is just reward for a player who showed tremendous promise as a youngster, making his first-class debut at the tender age of 17. Having scored over 1 000 runs last season at an astonishing average of 118.77, Malan was simply impossible to ignore.

‘I think the past three years has been so good for my character. It forced me to work enormously hard to get into the Cape Cobras squad,’ he said.

The return of Qaasim Adams will undoubtedly bolster the Cobras batting line-up further. The former Titans player showed his immense powers of concentration in one particular Sunfoil Series match as he occupied the crease for nearly eight hours on his way to a score of 144.

The likes of Malan and Adams, as well as the impressive Jason Smith and Dayyaan Galiem, may well breathe new life into the Cobras squad and set them on the path to silverware.

‘I believe our senior players will not only perform to propel the Cobras back to the summit of the log. They will also serve as enthusiastic and selfless mentors to these young players. I’m indebted to Puttick, Ontong and Van Zyl for sharing their rich international knowledge with the emerging stars,’ Cobras CEO Nabeal Dien remarked.

Cape Cobras squad for 2017-2018:  Qaasim Adams, Dayyaan Galiem, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Khomari, Richard Levi, George Linde, Pieter Malan, Aviwe Mgijima, Tshepo Moreki, Justin Ontong, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Andrew Puttick, Jason Smith, Stiaan van Zyl, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.

Photo: Chris Rocco/Backpage Pix