West Indies Captain, Jason Holder has suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Federation of International Cricket Associations (FIAC) come together to bring on board a minimum wage so that players can feel comfortable playing for their country and not going the Kolpak way.
A player is eligible for a Kolpak when he gives up the right to play for his country, meaning he is not classified as an overseas player signing.
The Kolpak ruling enables players from any nation with a trading relationship with the European Union (EU) to freely play as a professional.
Holder made the comments in light of young fast bowler Dwayne Oliver at the age of 26 going the Koplak way and leaving the South African national team set up.
Oliver has taken 48 wickets at an average of 19.3, only one bowler Mohammed Abbas has a better average during that time of 18.5.
Holder said probably the ICC and FICA needs to get together and institute a substantial minimum salary so that players will feel comfortable coming home to represent their country.
“What they also need to do is make sure that there is a window for these domestic leagues, so that players play for their national team. We don’t want to continue losing players to these leagues and also things like Kolpak,” he said.
Holder noted that when a player goes Kolpak they enter into the English County league and is able to play not as an overseas player but as a local. This is possible for players from Commonwealth countries, as well as those in Europe who had trade arrangements with Britain.
West Indies fast bowlers Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards have both gone Kolpak over the last few years.
