The England and Wales Cricket Board could be acting in breach of UK employment law by classing Northern Ireland-born Ireland internationals as overseas players in English domestic cricket from next season, according to a top sports lawyer.

Ireland internationals were previously treated as “qualified players” in English domestic cricket under the ECB’s regulations because they represented one of the second-tier associate nations. After the International Cricket Council (ICC) promoted Ireland from associate to full member and Test status in 2017, the ECB granted Ireland internationals a two-year transition period until the end of the 2019 season, after which they would be treated as “non-qualified” players.

Andrew Haywood, who heads the Sports Group at Penningtons Manches LLP, believes the ECB rules could be open to challenge