South Africa's cricket team has lost the services of fast bowler Kyle Abbott and batsman Rilee Rossouw after the pair confirmed they'd signed Kolpak contracts with Hampshire.
Abbott, who starred in the Proteas' recent Test series win in Australia, announced he'd signed a four-year deal with the English county side less than an hour after contributing to South Africa's victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Newlands.
Rossouw has signed a three-year contract.
Under the Kolpak ruling, cricketers are prohibited from playing for their country at the same time that they are contracted to an English county.
"Regrettably we have no option but to sever our ties with both Abbott and Rossouw as they are no longer available for South Africa," Cricket South Africa's chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
