As part of the Division 1 & 2 Focus Group, the regulations regarding overseas players were considered. The unanimous decision of those involved was that the regulation regarding restricting First Class players should be removed for the 2018 season. This was then put to the clubs in those divisions who were also unanimous. This was made for a variety of reasons but most importantly in the best interests of the development of the game here and to address the anomalies that have come about by the classifications of First Class cricket by different national cricket governing bodies.
Underwriting this is the accepted benefit for the game here of having cricketers from abroad coming to play in Leinster and the benefits to the players themselves – there are many examples and Carlos Brathwaite’s presence in Dublin recently reminded us of someone who contributed to a club here in Dublin, before moving on to the world stage.
As President, I am happy that we are in a position to provide clarification on this for clubs and address the anomaly that has existed.
Cricket Leinster have notified the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation of this change. Clubs will have to follow the usual procedure of seeking approval for the registration of the players through the OCC to Cricket Ireland, obtaining a work permit from Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation and a visa from Department of Foreign Affairs.