Kyle Abbott may sign Kolpak deal with Hampshire

Kyle Abbott may sign Kolpak deal with Hampshire

South Africa may suffer huge blow in the New Year as their strike bowler Kyle Abbott, who is currently involved in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka, is expected to be on the verge of signing a Kolpak deal with English County side Hampshire. Abbott, who played a crucial role in an away series win in Australia — South Africa’s third in a row — is reported to have agreed to sign a deal for three or four years which will all but end his international career. After playing his maiden Test in February 2013 and making his ODI debut next month in the same year, Abbott has so far played 10 Tests and 28 matches in the 50-over internationals.

According to ESPNCricinfo, even though Hampshire believe they are close to signing the South African fast bowler, they also fear that he may change his mind after his recent success at the international level. The report added that Cricket South Africa (CSA) are not aware of the deal between Hampshire and Abbott. The 29-year-old Abbott is expected to announce his retirement from international cricket later this month. Abbott is among a few more South African players who have signed Kolpak deals with English County sides, such as Simon Harmer and Hardus Viljoen. Hampshire are also believed to be in discussion with Rilee Rossouw, the report added.

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Abbott can expect to earn more than £100,000 a year from the deal with Hampshire. The deal also includes insurance cover, and he will be eligible to play in a few T20 leagues across the globe.

There have a long list of players from South Africa who have signed the Kolpak deal. Last player to join Kolpak deal was speedster Hardus Viljoen. Vilijoen signed up with Derbyshire for a period spanning for three years. Before Vilijoen it was batsman Stiaan van Zyl that signed a three-year contract with Sussex, having played 12 Tests for South Africa.

Alviro Petersen who had announced his retirement from international cricket in January 2015 was signed up the Kolpak deal to play for Lancashire. Warwickshire roped in Paul Harris who was widely known for his left-arm orthodox spin, under the Kolpak ruling for 2006 county season.

With no sight on any international cricket after a remarkable domestic season, Ryan McLaren, took the Kolpak route to play County cricket for Kent in 2007.

One of South Africa’s utility all-rounders Andrew Hall signed up for Northamptonshire as a Kolpak player in 2008. Explosive batsman Colin Ingram too joined Glamorgan on a three-year contract with the Welsh county after singing the Kolpak deal in 2014.

South Africa’s current Test skipper Faf du Plessis to was offered the Kolpak deal by Nottinghamshire, when he was just 21. du Plessis declined the offer as his dream was to play for South Africa and not England.

The Kolpak ruling took effect in 2003 when the European Court of Justice ruled that anyone with a work permit from a country which has an associate trading agreement with the European Union had the same rights as a European worker.  This means that English counties can sign cricketers from countries such as South Africa without having to designate them as overseas players as long as they have not represented their country in the past year.