The England Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed changes it has made to the status of Kolpak players stating those players won’t qualify as “locals” in the County cricket from the start of next year as a result of “Brexit”.
In a letter addressed to, among others, Cricket South Africa, the ECB said that “all Kolpak players will have their registration cancelled by the ECB with effect from 1 January 2021”.
In addition, “no further applications by any Kolpak player for registration will be accepted” and it “will apply regardless of whether” the player “is able to obtain an ancestral or family visa giving them the right to work in the UK”.
The ECB’s decision has long been mooted and players who have been playing on the basis of Kolpak contracts have in some instances already negotiated with their county employers in the UK to have their status changed to “overseas” players.
The ECB’s rules will allow for the two overseas players per starting team for county sides.
Ex-Protea Kyle Abbott is understood to have already agreed to stay at Hampshire as an overseas player.