Former Test batsman Hashim Amla has countered that the loss of several cricketers to county competition in the United Kingdom is not the main reason behind the Proteas’ recent plight.

The Proteas recently suffered a 3-0 Test series defeat by India and won a mere three matches during the World Cup earlier this year.

Seamers Kyle Abbott and Duanne Olivier, spinner Simon Harmer and several others, meanwhile, have aborted burgeoning Proteas careers in exchange for lucrative Kolpak contracts in the United Kingdom.

‘I find it very amusing whenever this whole subject of Kolpak and its effects on South Africa cricket are brought up,’ Amla told PakPassion.

‘Kolpak has been around for a long time, and so it’s surprising to me that it is been touted as the reason for all evils only because we lost the recent Test series to India.’

Amla, like former Proteas teammate Morne Morkel, signed a Kolpak contract after retiring from international cricket. He will join Morkel at Surrey in the County Championship Division One next year.

‘Now, one may argue that I am saying this because I have signed to play for Surrey next year as a Kolpak player, but my story is slightly different as I have a few years of international cricket under my belt,’ added Amla.

‘The fact remains that this whole issue has gained importance just due to recent bad performances. Kolpak has been around for a long time, and so it’s surprising to me that it is been touted as the reason for all evils, only because we lost the recent Test series to India.’

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