New full-time Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, admits he was left surprised by the decision of Dane Paterson to take up a Kolpak contract.

Paterson made his Test debut in the series against England at the turn of the year and has featured in 4 ODIs and 8 T20 since his white-ball debut in 2017.

The quick is reportedly waiting on ECB approval of his Kolpak move to Nottinghamshire.

‘Having been a part of the Dane Paterson conversation, I think a lot of this lies with the Cape Cobras… we were almost attempted to be pushed to giving him a national contract and it was taken to the selectors. They felt that Dane wasn’t in that discussion and then it falls on the franchises to then handle the contract discussion (with Dane),’ said Smith.

‘His previous contract has always been with the Cobras so I don’t understand why.

‘The national process has been the same for a number of years and he hasn’t had a national contract. Maybe he created an expectation of being a part of the Test squad.

‘There hasn’t been enough communication from him, which has been disappointing. We don’t want to lose players. With Kolpak deals coming to an end (this year), it was a surprising decision for me.’

READ: Remembering Hall’s World Cup five-for

Interim CSA CEO Jacques Faul weighed in by stating that it is difficult to guarantee players of a place in the national side.

‘People leave on their own accord, nobody forces a player to take a contract abroad,’ he said.

‘I’m not sure what we can do on a national side, you can communicate with them and indicate that they are in consideration, but it is difficult to give guarantees on playing. We all want to retain the best players for South Africa.’

Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix