Kyle Abbott retires from South African cricket team for lucrative English County deal

Johannesburg: South Africa seamer Kyle Abbott has brought the curtains down on his international career, after signing a Kolpak deal with an English county side, on Thursday.

Abbott, who signed for Hampshire, has been on the international circuit for four years now. However, the Proteas bowler has not been getting enough chances in the playing XI due to a racial quota.

"February would be four years since my international debut. Ever since I played in South Africa, at every level, there has always been a quota system. I have never used it as an excuse and I won't now,” said Abbott in a statement.

“I need to pay bills, I need to buy groceries,” he further said.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has a racial quota for selecting the national team, in order to allow more non-white players into the side.

Abbott has been in and out of the side due to this quota. He had included in the South African team during the Australia tour, and is also a part of the squad for the ongoing Sri Lanka Tests. However, the fact that he has signed a Kolpak deal, rules him out of the squad with immediate effect.