The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has conducted a thorough audit revealing that about 1,700 amateur cricketers may be breaching UK visa regulations. This audit has prompted a crackdown on overseas players in club cricket, with reports submitted to the Home Office concerning potential violations.
The BBC-led investigation has found that several of these players have already been excluded from their end-of-season matches. The issue primarily involves unpaid amateur cricketers in UK leagues, many of whom entered the country on standard visitor or student visas.
According to recent Home Office guidelines, some players initially in the UK on these visas are now considered professional athletes. The updated regulations define a professional sportsman as anyone who has represented a national team, including youth teams aged 17 and older, in the past two years. This definition also includes those who have participated in T20 matches for associated nations, even if they played without compensation.
Since gaining full international status in 2019, associate T20 cricket has grown in participation, but many players from outside the top ten men’s and top sixteen women’s teams remain unpaid. In response, the ECB has reported suspected visa regulation breaches to the Home Office.
Speaking on the matter, an ECB spokesperson stated: “As the governing body, we are obligated to uphold immigration compliance within the sport. Our annual audit will encompass registered players from the recreational sector, especially those who are non-resident in the UK and are under various entry permissions. We lack the authority to clear players concerning their immigration status, hence we must report any suspected breaches to the Home Office and inform the relevant clubs about the situation.”
A spokesperson from the Home Office commented: “While immigration confers numerous advantages to the UK, it must be managed through a fair and controlled system. We anticipate that sports governing bodies will ensure that all players falling under their jurisdiction comply with their visa specifications and the broader immigration framework, including a thorough assessment of who qualifies as professional sportspeople.”
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