Kallis, Boucher and Prince walk out on Cobras

Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince have walked out on Cape Cobras after a reported dispute which followed the franchise's decision not to pick them for the Pro20 semi-finals last season. The three have nominated the Warriors as their franchise for the 2008-09 season.

While the news will be a slight embarrassment to the Cobras, the actual impact on the playing side will not be great as the trio, as contracted national players, have not featured regularly for the team.

Mohamed Ebrahim, chairman of Western Cape Cricket, said the franchise was sorry such high calibre players were leaving, particularly Kallis and Prince who have for long been associated with them.

Chief executive Andre Odendaal said they would be sorely missed, adding pointedly that Boucher had never actually played for the Cobras and Jacques had turned out in only one of their last 78 matches.

"We enjoyed the association with them and our fans and the door remains open from our side should they wish to be involved in any way in future," he said. "We will also miss Ashwell's on-field leadership and enthusiasm which has been an important factor in the Cobras' recent run of five successive semis or more in limited overs competitions."

For their part, the Warriors were very pleased to have snapped up the trio. "We are delighted to have Jacques, Mark and Ashwell joining," said the Warriors' chief executive Dave Emslie. "All three of them bring with them a wealth of cricketing talent and experience."

Coach Russell Domingo added: "It's wonderful that Boucher and Prince have returned to their roots and along with Robin Peterson, Johan Botha and Makhaya Ntini we now have five locally bred international cricketers all playing for the Warriors."

Prince said he was looking forward to the move. "I am very excited to be rejoining my boyhood team," he said, "and am looking forward to taking the team back to the glory days."