South Africa Legend Hashim Amla Signs Kolpak Deal With Surrey

Surrey, on Tuesday, confirmed the signing of former South Africa batsman Hashim Amla on a Kolpak registration. The legendary batsman has joined the English outfit on a two-year deal. The second year of the deal, however, could be jeopardised by the UK’s impending departure from the European Union.

Earlier this year in August, Hashim Amla had brought down curtains on his international career. He bowed out of the game after playing 124 Tests, 181 ODIs and 44 T20 internationals for the Proteas. Amla amassed 9282 runs in Tests at an average of 46.64 with 28 hundreds and 41 fifties while in ODIs he scored 8113 runs at 49.46 with 27 centuries and 39 half-centuries. In the shortest format Amla managed to score 1277 runs at 33.60 including 8 fifties.

His form in recent times was not at all impressive and he decided to hang his boots after the dismal display in the World Cup. Hashim Amla has previously played for Surrey as an overseas player in 2013 and 2014.

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Alec Stewart, Surrey’s director of cricket, welcomed the Proteas legend to the team. He also said  that the number of his players in or around the England set-up meant that the opportunity to sign Amla was “too good to ignore”.

“His record speaks for itself and we know from his previous spells here that he will be an excellent resource for all of our players to learn from both on and off the field.

“With several of our players now in or around the international setup, the opportunity to bring Hashim back to Surrey was too good to ignore,” said Stewart.

On the other hand, Hashim Amla said:

“Surrey are one of the most established and accomplished cricket clubs in the world and I am very excited to be joining them again while also not forgetting the opportunity to play alongside my good friend Morne Morkel again.”

Amla has further extended the list of South African players who have opted the Kolpak path in recent years. In the last few years, the likes of Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Duanne Olivier Marchant de Lange, Rilee Rossouw have signed the Kolpak deals.