Unpacking the impact of controversial Kolpak rule

CITIZENS of EU countries are allowed to work in any other EU country. But the Kolpak rule means that citizens of countries that are part of European Union Association Agreements, which are free trade treaties between the EU and other countries, also have the same right.

The rule was made when Maros Kolpak, a Slovak handball player, appealed to the European Court of Justice that he should not be considered a non-EU player in the German handball league as he was a resident of Germany and a citizen of a country that had an Association Agreement with the EU. Kolpak had lost his contract with his German club as they had two non-EU players. The court ruled in his favour.

Players from countries with such deals with the EU can play cricket in any EU country without being considered an overseas player. This means they can sign contracts with English county sides without having to be fielded as overseas players.

No. In 2009, the British Home Office ruled that to sign a Kolpak deal, a player must either have a valid work permit for four years in the UK or have earned a specified number of caps in international cricket.

No. A player must give up his right to play for his country during the length of his deal with a county. Yes, but he can only play in the English off season.

Yes, once his contract with the English county expires or is terminated.

Jacques Rudolph signed a Kolpak deal with Yorkshire in 2007 after being dropped from the South African team in 2006. He was released from it in 2010 and played again for South Africa in 2011. grandparents was English.

Once Britain leaves the European Union, Kolpak contracts will most likely not be possible. That is why there is a rush now from counties and Kolpak-eligible players to sign deals before Brexit takes effect.

More money. South African domestic cricket pays significantly less than English county cricket. And with the South African rand weakening, the gap is widening.

South African cricket has a quota system. In September last year, Cricket South Africa announced that a maximum of five white players can be picked in the eleven, on average. This means some white players, such as Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw, may not get as many chances to play for South Africa.

They get better players without having to field them as foreign players. Each county is only allowed to field one overseas player (or two in the NatWest Blast).

For countries such as South Africa, the drawback is that they lose players from their national side and their domestic competitions. For England, fewer English-born or England-qualified players get the chance to play county cricket. — ESPN Sports Media