Two overseas players allowed in County Championship & One-Day Cup from 2021

[Abdullah719]

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has approved a recommendation to increase the number of Unqualified cricketers that First-Class Counties can field in men’s county cricket from next season.

First-Class Counties will be permitted to field a total of two Unqualified cricketers in the same match in the County Championship and Royal London Cup from 2021.

This represents an increase from the one Unqualified cricketer that First-Class Counties are currently permitted to field in those two competitions.

The Vitality Blast will remain unchanged, with First-Class Counties already permitted to field two Unqualified cricketers in the 20-over competition.

The ECB’s Performance Cricket Committee (PCC) made the recommendation to the ECB Board, which approved the changes this month.

PCC chair, Sir Andrew Strauss, said:
“There is an important balance to be struck to ensure the need for good foreign players in county cricket and providing opportunity for nine England-qualified players in each county team.

“There are clearly long-established benefits for our domestic players to compete against and learn from the best players from across the world in addition to providing high-quality domestic cricket for county members and fans to enjoy.

"An increase in Unqualified cricketers allows First-Class Counties to maintain that standard while also enabling them to plan and prepare for next summer."

 

[MenInG]

Two overseas players will be allowed in County Championship and One-Day Cup teams during the 2021 season.

The change by the England & Wales Cricket Board comes following the decision to terminate Kolpak registrations at the end of this year.

First-class counties are permitted to field two overseas players in the T20 Blast, but have been restricted to one in other competitions since 2007.

The 2020 county season is scheduled to get under way on 1 August.

Many counties have cancelled deals for overseas players this season because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The ECB’s Performance Cricket Committee (PCC) made the recommendation to double the allowance to the ECB board, which has approved the changes.

“There is an important balance to be struck to ensure the need for good foreign players in county cricket and providing opportunity for nine England-qualified players in each county team," PCC chair Andrew Strauss said.

“There are clearly long-established benefits for our domestic players to compete against and learn from the best players from across the world, in addition to providing high-quality domestic cricket for county members and fans to enjoy.

"An increase in unqualified cricketers allows first-class counties to maintain that standard while also enabling them to plan and prepare for next summer."

An end to Kolpak contracts

Kolpak deals have been used in English cricket since 2004, mainly for players from South Africa.

However, they will not be allowed in the county game following Brexit, in line with the deal the United Kingdom secured with the European Union.

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.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/53282808

 

[MenInG]

Good news for South Africa cricket I suppose with end to Kolpak?

 

[Abdullah719]

Bob Willis Trophy: Shortened red-ball competition named after ex-England captain

All 18 first-class counties will compete in a shortened red-ball tournament named in honour of Bob Willis, the ECB has confirmed.

A majority of counties voted to play both red-ball and white-ball cricket when the season resumes on 1 August.

Some had hoped to play white-ball cricket only, but the ECB says all counties will take part in both.

The truncated T20 Blast will begin on 27 August, although a full fixture schedule is yet to be announced.

Neil Snowball, the ECB's managing director of county cricket, said: "The enforced break due to Covid-19 has provided a challenging period for the county game, during which time the 18 first-class counties have been united with a common goal to get back to our core function of playing cricket.

"The commitment of the chairs and chief executives of the first-class counties to work together to achieve that ambition has been resolute, and we will remain in close discussion as we continue to assess risk factors that need to be mitigated in order to ensure the safety and welfare of their players, coaches and staff.

"We are all delighted that agreement has been reached across the game and we are now in a position to look forward to and prepare for a new men's domestic season starting on 1 August."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/53362997