Kolpak Ruling

A judgement in the European Court of Justice in May 2004 has meant that if a person is a national of a country which has an Association Agreement with the European Union (countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, some West Indian Islands etc) and that person is in possession of a valid UK work permit, he must be treated for the purposes of employment as if he was a citizen of an EU country.

In the case of cricket, this means that a cricketer from such a country who is in possession of a valid UK work permit is treated as if he were a British or other European citizen and can therefore qualify as a domestic player for Competitive County Cricket.

There is no residential requirement, but the player must not have played cricket at first-class level or above in the 12 months leading up to the season in question, and must give up playing as a domestic player in his home country (although ECB can exercise its discretion to waive either of these criteria).

This does not, of course, mean that the player is qualified for England. The main requirement for qualification for England is that the player must be a British or an Irish citizen and, if he was not born within England or Wales, he must complete a four-year residence period.

See also:

'Kolpak Players' 2007 (35 KB)

Kolpak Ruling

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