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Kolpak: PCA would back two overseas players per county post-Brexit
The Professional Cricketers' Association would support two overseas players per club in all formats from 2021 to allow Kolpak signings chances to continue playing county cricket.
Following Brexit, the England and Wales Cricket Board has advised counties that Kolpak registrations will be terminated at the end of the 2020 season.
The agreement is in line with the deal the UK secured with the European Union.
Kolpak deals have been used since 2004 for players mainly from South Africa.
Counties are already permitted to have two overseas players in the T20 Blast - but have been restricted to one in all other competitions, including the Championship, since 2007.
Kolpak contracts are named after Slovak handball player Marius Kolpak, who won a landmark case at the European Court of Justice in 2003.
They allow sportsmen from countries with associate trade agreements with the EU, such as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Caribbean nations to be afforded the same right to free movement as EU citizens.
Kolpak players are not classed as overseas players by the England and Wales Cricket Board under the terms of their contracts, but they become ineligible to represent their country at international level.
There are currently 17 South African players under Kolpak contracts for the 2020 season.
A number of those, including Essex off-spinner Simon Harmer and Hampshire fast bowler Kyle Abbott, agreed deals beyond 2020 towards the end of last season.
Somerset have also recently signed South Africa seamer Vernon Philander on a two-year Kolpak contract and Surrey have brought in his fellow countryman Hashim Amla on a similar deal.
Overseas players who hold UK passports or who have settled or pre-settled status will continue to have their rights to play as a "local cricketer" protected past 2020.
PCA chairman and Worcestershire opening batsman Daryl Mitchell said Brexit has caused a "number of sensitive issues" for members over the past three years.
"It's been a frustrating process for many, but fortunately we're now able to offer some clarity," he said.
"We must acknowledge and consider the human element of those players who've made commitments and signed contracts beyond 2020 and the effect this outcome will have on those individuals.
"Our view is increasing overseas players to two per county in the County Championship and One-Day Cup would be a positive outcome.
"This would allow opportunities for these players to continue their careers in England and help to maintain standards in the county game."
The ECB's new competition, The Hundred, which makes its debut this summer will feature three overseas players per team. BBC Sport
Mixed reaction to this PCA policy on line. My view on "Nottsview" us in favour. Counties are going to lose some cried pullers with Windi g down of Kolpak, and the county game needs bums on seats to fight off the threats to it. This means 9 places for players available to play for England not n every team, far better than now. Overseas players certainly can help develop our young players
ReplyDeleteWow, this is confusing(or as usual I'm making it confusing)Does this mean you can have two overseas non kolpaks as well as any existing kolpaks you already have registered ? Or does the two slots include any kolpaks you've got, so if you've got two you can't have any overpasses non kolpaks? Guess it won't matter for us with Myopic Mick being at the controls who has steadfastly got us into this position with the squad due to his reluctance and inability to sign one, when most other clubs have seen the logic of going down this route. Once the u turn was made did he then only have one target who we couldn't land unlike most South Africans of his age who seem delighted to sign lucrative kolpaks deals at English counties
ReplyDeletemeant overseas non kolpaks
DeleteAs far as Brexit is concerned at present I believe no Kolpaks after the end of this year.
ReplyDeleteThere will be a number of marriages this year, I am sure
DeleteAs I understand it, because of the lack of any agreement with the EU with regards to trade, employment mobility etc and anything else, as of 31 Dec there will be no Kolpak deals, that current Kolpak contracts will be deemed null and void and so the the PCA are looking to protect their current Kolpak members employed in England, by suggesting the number of overseas players allowed in County Cricket to be doubled, in order to maintain those members' livelihoods.
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DeleteThe ECB have indicated that, subject to the final legal position:
Players with British passports or have settled or pre-settled status have rights to play as a local cricketer protected past 2020
Players who are identified as Kolpak can play in 2020 until their registration will be cancelled on 31 December 2020 due to the deal the United Kingdom secured with the European Union
The PCA would support two overseas players per county for all three county competitions from 2021 to allow opportunities for Kolpak Cricketers to continue to play county cricket.
In some ways, they are possibly a better option if you get top quality like Morkel, Amla and Abbot as unlike the now nightmare overseas option and unavailability with scheduling and their respective cricket boards, they are available 100percent of the time. South Africans seems unable to turn down the lucrative deal when approached but typical of us to go after one and not entice them.
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