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Mike Procter wants to halt South Africa exodus

Mike Procter
Former match referee Procter is concerned by big salaries abroad

More top South African cricketers must stay in the country, according to national selector Mike Procter.

However, he admitted good players could earn far more elsewhere than at home.

"That's the way we're trying to play it - we try to encourage people to stay in South Africa," Procter told BBC Test Match Special's Jonathan Agnew.

"But some of the salaries in (English) county cricket are extremely high, just to play domestic cricket, not at the highest international level."

Plenty of talented South African players have moved elsewhere in recent years.

South Africa-born England stars Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott are well-known examples, but many lesser-known South Africans have been plying their trade in the English county game, to the consternation of both the South African and English governing bodies.

An EU loophole known as the "Kolpak" ruling has allowed a massive influx of South Africans to be treated as non-overseas players for the last five years but, after much lobbying from the England and Wales Cricket Board, that loophole was closed in October.

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Even so, Procter wishes more players at all levels of the game would remain within South Africa - but understands the strength of the financial temptation to head abroad.

"A lot of people have left South Africa in all walks of life," said Procter, "particularly in professional sport where the pound is very strong compared to the rand.

"The amount of money a couple of South Africans I know earn is extremely high to play county cricket, which is a fantastic way of life.

"To earn that kind of money is unbelievable."



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see also
ECB wins overseas player battle
26 Oct 09 |  Counties
Kolpak numbers could be slashed
21 Jul 08 |  Counties
ECB will fight SA player influx
13 May 08 |  Counties
Counties fear Kolpak
03 Mar 04 |  Cricket
Live cricket on the BBC
26 Oct 11 |  Cricket
England in South Africa 2009-10
17 Jan 10 |  England


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