Smith loses Kolpak status

Dwayne Smith helped Sussex lift the Twenty20 Cup for the first time this season and retain their NatWest Pro40 title

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Dwayne Smith has been forced to leave Sussex after the all-rounder’s Kolpak status expired.

The 26-year-old must play Test cricket again for West Indies to be eligible under the Kolpak ruling, rather than register as an official overseas player.

Smith, who last featured in the Test arena in March 2006, played a key role as Sussex won the Twenty20 Cup and retained the NatWest Pro40 Division One title this season.

The county last week confirmed Pakistan’s Yasir Arafat would return as overseas player next season, meaning Smith could have to play second fiddle, except perhaps in the Friends Provident T20, when both would be permitted under new roles allowing two overseas players in the new Twenty20 competition.

Smith, who has returned to his native Barbados, signed a three-year contract with Sussex in 2008.