Kent block McLaren Proteas call

Kent have refused all-rounder Ryan McLaren permission to play one-day cricket for South Africa.

McLaren was included in the Proteas’ one-day squad to play Kenya and Bangladesh later this month.

But under the terms of the 25-year-old Kolpak player’s contract, which runs until 2010, the county have the right to withhold him from international cricket.

McLaren said: "I am obviously disappointed that I have had to withdraw from the South African ODI squad. However, I fully understand my contractual commitments to Kent and respect their decision.

Kent have told Ryan McLaren he must honour his contract which commits him to them

“I also want to thank Cricket South Africa and the national selectors for having the confidence in me to select me for the South African team.

“I wish the team well for the season and especially for the Australian tour."

Kent chief executive Paul Millman said: "We fully appreciate and understand Ryan's request to be released by Kent for the remainder of his contract to play for South Africa but we are not in a position to agree to his request for numerous reasons.

“The main reason (is) that Ryan is a key player and Kent have built the team around him. This has become even more relevant because of our demotion to the second division of the County Championship."

Cricket South Africa chief executive officer Gerald Majola added: "We are obviously disappointed that Ryan has had to withdraw but there is nothing more that we can do about it.

"We are not going to replace him in the Standard Bank ODI squad for the two matches against Kenya as 13 players should be sufficient.

“We will re-assess the position before the MTN ODI series against Bangladesh by which time we will have had a good look at the additional players who will be joining our training camp in Kimberley."

McLaren is contracted to the Gestetner Diamond Eagles for the South African season and will play in the MTN Domestic Championship and the Standard Bank Pro20 Series.