Leicestershire lose Du Preez

Dillon du Preez will play for Bangalore in the 2009 Indian Premier League campaign

Leicestershire all-rounder Dillon du Preez has had an application for a work permit refused by the ECB.

The 27-year-old South African played for the county as a Kolpak player last year, but will not be able to take his place in the Leicestershire squad this season.

Du Preez took 32 LV County Championship wickets last season and also contributed useful runs in one-day cricket.

He made a thrilling unbeaten 107 from 73 balls at Headingley Carnegie, as the Foxes fell short by just one run in a NatWest Pro40 match.

Leicestershire chief executive David Smith said: “We were aware this could happen at the end of last year. We are sad to see that Dillon won’t be coming back.

“The type of players that will be getting work permits in the future will actually be those who have played Test cricket for their countries.

“We are trying to look for a replacement which will hopefully be an overseas bowler from about late June onwards.”

Du Preez returned to South Africa to play domestic cricket for the Eagles, and was snapped up by the Bangalore Royal Challengers for the coming edition of the Indian Premier League.

Fellow South African medium-pacer Garnett Kruger also left Leicestershire in the close-season to join Glamorgan.

A deal for his mooted replacement, Lionel Baker of West Indies, also fell through.