Work Permits for County Players

[Ninjaman]

What conditions must be satisfied to successfully acquire a work permit to play county cricket in England?

I ask this because I've just heard (not confirmed yet) that Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been denied a work permit to play for the remainder of Durham's county season.

[Collyisamackem]

No idea, but I hope it gets sorted! We could seriously do with Shiv if Di Venuto is out of action.

[darksideofthemoon]

Working in the UK - Cricket work permit criteria for the 2006 season (including indoor cricket)

[Rachael]

If ANYTHING gets in the way of a player of Chanderpaul's class playing the County Championship... the ECB should call an emergency general meeting and just sort that damn mess out: few players on the planet could bring more to the domestic game... and a rule that gets in the way is just a damn stupid rule!

[adamberry]

So, according to that link, the only thing that could block Shiv's playing for Durham is a lack of a coaching contract (unless I've misread something)? Utterly ridiculous, especially as he isn't likely to be coaching anyway.

[Collyisamackem]

Chanderpaul has signed for the rest of the season, excellent news! Additionally, since Michael Di Venuto holds an Italian passport he may be able to qualify as a Kolpak next season by applying for European citizenship, so Chanderpaul may return then. Whilst that furthers the Kolpak issue it's great to see a batsman of Chanderpaul's class in Durham colours.

Cricinfo - Chanderpaul signs for Durham

[Occasional Fan]

If Di Venuto holds an Italian passport he already has equal rights to work in the UK as any UK citizen. That's a matter of EU law. No work permit needed. I'm not sure, but I don't think the ECB would have the right to exclude him on any basis at all without falling foul of EU law (this is why it is also impossible for anyone to stop, for example, Arsenal FC being entirely staffed by Frenchmen). The Kolpak players were not EU citizens, but were allowed to work because of association agreements which their countries had with the EU, I believe. (Kolpak himself, of course, as a Slovak, is now an EU citizen and has full rights to work anywhere in the 27 Member States - although seven of them have temporary restrictions against citizens of eight of the 2004 joiners. His name will live on in the context of sportsmen from non-member states wishing to play in the EU by virtue of association agreements.)