Statement from Neil Matthews on behalf of the NCU Domestic Cricket Directorate

"Within the past two weeks, the Union has been made aware that the Home Office is interpreting 'professional cricketer' as including anyone who has ever played First-Class cricket, regardless of how long ago, or how many or few times. In these circumstances, the Union has concluded that it cannot permit the registration of any such player who is in the United Kingdom on a Standard Visitor Visa."

"Clubs should understand that if a registered player has his SVV revoked for reasons of which a club was, or should have been aware, then the Union is likely to consider the Club to have committed a disciplinary offence for which the potential penalties are set out in the Disciplinary Bye-laws."