The outspoken Kevin Pietersen has encouraged Cricket South Africa interim director of cricket Graeme Smith to pursue an arrangement with the England and Wales Cricket Board that would allow cricketers bound to Kolpak contracts to play for the Proteas.

Currently, international cricketers who have signed Kolpak contracts in the United Kingdom are not allowed to compete in Test, ODI or T20I competition.

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South Africa have a long line of Kolpak cricketers, including fast bowlers Duanne Olivier and Kyle Abbott, spinner Simon Harmer, batsmen Rilee Rossouw and Colin Ingram, wicketkeeper Dane Vilas and more.

The veteran Hashim Amla and Morne Morkel signed Kolpak contracts after retiring from international cricket.

‘If Graeme can strike a deal with the ECB to allow Kolpak players to play for them but still have their contracts, it strengthens international cricket,’ tweeted Pietersen.

‘International cricket is suffering. This is a disgrace for South African sport.’

All-rounder Vernon Philander, who is involved in the ongoing fourth Test against England at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, will retire from international cricket later this week. He, too, will sign a Kolpak contract to play for Somerset in the County Championship.

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