Northants decline overseas player

By Oliver Brett

Van der Wath ended his South Africa ties after the World Twenty20

Northants will not field an overseas player during the 2008 season, head coach David Capel has confirmed.

Johan van der Wath's decision not to pursue his career with South Africa has enabled him to sign as one of four Kolpakkers in the squad.

Capel told BBC Sport: "Johan was told that if he wasn't going to pursue an international career then there was an offer of a three-year contract.

"We've also signed Nicky Boje and will not be registering an overseas player."

New captain Boje, van der Wath and Andrew Hall - another new signing - are three of four South Africans at the club who have signed on Kolpak terms.

None of that trio will be available for pre-season training for Northants as they will play in the second edition of the Indian Cricket League.

Lance Klusener - who has the longest association with Northants - is the fourth South African Kolpakker at the club.

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"Kolpak" conditions allow counties to use a loophole in European Union law to sign players from certain countries - and avoid the quota of one overseas player per club.

In theory, the four players - all of them all-rounders and all available for the whole season - could see the team challenge for rare one-day honours in the 2008 season.

Capel said he was unconcerned that three of them would be spending a month playing Twenty20 cricket just prior to the first County Championship match.

He said: "They will be back in early April and as far as I and the club are concerned they will be getting a month of cricket [in India] where they can get themselves fit by playing in that tournament."

Official pre-season training at Northants starts on 10 March, but Capel said: "Some of the players have been back since Christmas.

"They have been working on individual technical things - it's a good time to deal with individual needs."

Northants's season begins with a trip to Chelmsford on 16 April.