Rules-3-2

3.2. Player Status, ECB Category, Professional or Amateur

3.2.1. The Home Office & ECB oversee the rules on player status

3.2.1.1. These rules must be used to determine status

3.2.1.1.1. The Home Office have published terms to apply equally to UK residents and players from Overseas, to be known as "qualifying" and "non-qualifying" players and this ensures the status is defined equally across the country for all sports and confirms or limits league, County or National competitions that a cricketer can compete in. 

3.2.1.1.2. The ECB defines the status of "qualifying" and "non-qualifying" as Category 1 or Category 3 

3.2.1.1.3. The Home Office also defines how Professional and Amateur status is determined.
https://resources.ecb.co.uk/ecb/document/2020/09/01/49b7f764-385f-4b1f-ad63-dc2670a10091/Overseas_Players_Amateur_v_Professional_Definitions-2020.pdf  

3.2.2. Determining Player Status

3.2.2.1. It is a club’s responsibility to correctly allocate a player status 

3.2.2.1.1. This should be based on fact and all latest information available

3.2.2.1.2. Attempts to alter facts or statements in order to meet eligibility criteria will result in bans or restrictions on the player and club from the league and Governing Body

3.2.2.1.3. Any decision made may be challenged by opponents, the Board, the Executive, the ECB, the Home Office or HM Revenue & Customs so appropriate records must be kept including those required under Employment Law.

3.2.2.2. No other interpretations of rules can be used and you should refrain from accepting other clubs views, agents opinions or player requests. You should always review the status independently.

3.2.2.2.1. GMCL cannot make a ruling but may be able to answer any questions you may have, please email professionals@gtrmcrcricket.co.uk 

3.2.3. Paid, Unpaid, Professional or Amateur?

3.2.3.1. GMCL determine a “Paid” player as 

3.2.3.1.1. a player who receives or expects to receive a reward, monetary or otherwise, in relation to cricket activity as a representative of or on behalf of a club or for playing for a team.

3.2.3.1.2. from the club or from any business, sponsor or individual

3.2.3.1.3. at any time, before, during or after the season.

3.2.3.2. The Home Office define a “Professional” Sportsperson as someone who is paid or unpaid who

3.2.3.2.1. is providing services as a sportsperson, playing or coaching in any capacity, at a professional or semi-professional level of sport or

3.2.3.2.2. is a person who derives or has in the past derived or seeks in the future to derive, a living from playing or coaching and

3.2.3.2.3. is providing services as a sportsperson or coach at any level of sport, unless they are doing so as an “Amateur”.

3.2.3.2.4. From this we can determine that “Unpaid” players can still be defined as “Professionals” from their past career or for what they wish to be in the future. Clubs must take this into account in determining the status of a player.

3.2.3.3. The Home Office define an “Amateur” as

3.2.3.3.1. a person who engages in a sport or creative activity solely for personal enjoyment and

3.2.3.3.2. who has not previously, does not now and is not seeking to derive a wage or living from the activity.

3.2.3.3.3. But note that a person playing or coaching in a “Professional” charity game where there is no personal gain can still be considered an amateur player where there are no other indicators of being a professional player.

3.2.4. ECB Player Categories

3.2.4.1. ECB categories standardise the descriptions of players across the country, Players are required to use this standard at registration with the league and on Play Cricket, clubs may be asked to verify the category selected for any player by the league or ECB.

3.2.4.2. ECB Player Categories - Category 1 – "Qualified" player

3.2.4.2.1. Category 1 can include “paid”, “professional” or “amateur” players

3.2.4.2.1.1. Category 1 criteria are 

3.2.4.2.1.1.1. British Citizenship AND born in England/Wales OR 210 days residence in the 12 months up to 1st April prior to the season of registration 

3.2.4.2.1.1.2. AND the player has not played as a local player in professional international or domestic cricket in another Full Member country in the 12 months up to 1st April prior to the season of registration.

3.2.4.2.1.2. Category 1 players - Verification

3.2.4.2.1.2.1. Clubs should obtain and store copies of documents to verify citizenship, birth and ordinary residence and date of arrival in the UK where relevant to the criteria in 3.2.4.2.1.1. above to verify eligibility and may be required to submit these to the league, ECB or Home Office.

3.2.4.3. ECB Player Categories - Category 3 – "Non-Qualifying" player

3.2.4.3.1. Category 3 covers “paid”, “professional” and “amateur” players who do not meet the criteria of a Level 1 player

3.2.4.3.2. Category 3 players in this category are often referred to as an “Overseas” player but there is more to it than that, full guidance can be found on ECB pages here - https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/106402/governing-body-endorsement 

3.2.4.3.3. Category 3 Verification

3.2.4.3.3.1. Clubs should obtain and store copies of documents to verify citizenship, birth and ordinary residence and date of arrival in the UK where relevant to the criteria to verify arrival in the UK and entry documents used and may be required to submit these to the league, ECB or Home Office.

3.2.4.3.3.2. Online cricket records are likely to help you verify where a player has played overseas, and the league has a subscription to cricketarchive.com should you wish to check any details. Please e-mail webadmin@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk 

3.2.5. GMCL Policy on using “Paid” or “Professional” players

3.2.5.1. GMCL is an “open league” therefore a club can use multiple paid or professional players in their 1st XI dependent on Player Status and Categories referred to but 

3.2.5.1.1. there is no mandatory requirement on any club playing at GMCL at any level to have one or more “paid” players except that in the final 4 league games of the season where any club having a Named Professional, must employ a deputy should that Named Professional be unavailable in the circumstances provided in Rule 2.2

3.2.5.2. Clubs are wholly responsible for all legal costs of employing “Paid” or “Professional” players, this includes Visa fees to the Home Office and Tax and National Insurance contributions to HMRC in respect of all payments to Category 1 and Category 3 players.

3.2.5.3. No Named Professional (Rule 3.2) at a GMCL club shall be engaged (or approached with a view to engagement) by another GMCL club for the following season before 1st August without the consent of that player’s present club. Penalty £100.00. 

3.2.5.3.1. Clubs aware of an illegal approach must e-mail CricketDirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk with professionals@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk copied in marked CONFIDENTIAL with appropriate details.

3.2.5.4. Category 1 players in GMCL

3.2.5.4.1. “Paid” or “Professional” Category 1 players can only play for a Saturday 1st XI in League, Cup or GMCL20

3.2.5.4.2. “Amateur” Category 1 players can play in any GMCL team, dependent on age qualification

3.2.5.4.3. There is no limit on the number of Category 1 players at a club

3.2.5.5. Category 3 players in GMCL

3.2.5.5.1.  A club may only register one professional Category 3 player at a club and all details including a copy of the signed contract must be shared with the league at email professionals@gtrmcrcricket.co.uk (you may redact the financial details).

3.2.5.5.2. Each of a club’s Saturday teams may have only one Category 3 player provided all eligibility criteria are met, but “Paid” or “Professional” Category 3 players can only play for a Saturday 1st XI in League, Cup or GMCL20

3.2.5.5.3. Players are required to enter their Category 1 or category 3 status on their ECB and league registration and GMCL are required to submit records of all Category 3 player registrations to the ECB during the season and clubs should be aware that registrations can be challenged by the ECB on Cat 1 / Cat 3 status and on professional / amateur status and if you take unverified advice from a player agency or other third party this will not exempt the club from the consequences of an incorrect registration.

3.2.6. Additional Information on Player Status

3.2.6.1. “Passport” & “Visa” Documents

3.2.6.1.1. “Passport” & “Visa” are documents which allow a person to enter and be in the UK legally, they are not determining factors in a player’s eligibility status.

3.2.6.1.1.1. A UK Passport does not mean the holder is a “Qualifying Player” and does not qualify a person as resident in the UK.

3.2.6.1.1.2. There are a range of visas available for activity in the UK, and professionals require a different visa to amateurs.

3.2.6.1.1.3. There are several visa types that allow amateur players to play cricket and there are a number that do not.

3.2.6.1.2. See Home Office overview here

https://resources.ecb.co.uk/ecb/document/2024/06/14/05aa0111-2e6a-4601-82c7-fb380697ed93/Visa-Overview-June-2024.pdf 

3.2.6.2. Sponsorship and Governing Body Endorsement

3.2.6.2.1. Category 3 Professionals will require ECB Governing Body Endorsement,

3.2.6.2.2. There is more ECB guidance on Governing Body Endorsement here including a Step by Step guide
. https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/106402/governing-body-endorsement 

3.2.6.3. Advice & Decision Making

3.2.6.3.1. Clubs should ensure they are acquainted with the latest rules before engaging a Category 3 or "overseas" player, but

3.2.6.3.2. Clubs should be aware that the Home Office rules will likely change year on year and not necessarily in line with the time at which you are looking to engage a player

3.2.6.3.3. The Executive will ensure that any advice supplied to us from the governing body is shared with clubs through the registered club contacts.

3.2.6.3.4. The Home Office is the arbiter and they should be contacted with any challenges.

3.2.6.3.5. The ECB or GMCL are not registered to give advice on immigration.

3.2.6.3.6. Information on aspects of immigration policy and law can be found on the Home Office website,

3.2.3.3.7. ECB can answer questions by e-mail to managedmigration@ecb.co.uk

3.2.3.3.8. GMCL can provide assistance based on the full facts submitted by e-mail to professionals@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk but cannot make any rulings.