Kyle Abbott's international career has been effectively ended following the second Test against Sri Lanka after talks with Cricket South Africa failed to dissuade him from accepting a Kolpak deal with Hampshire.

Abbott, 29, has a three-year deal on the table from county outfit Hampshire – worth over £500 000 (about R9 million) in total – with the option of a fourth year, and a national contract doesn’t quite match those numbers, even with match fees and bonuses.

The board has spent the last two days in meetings with Abbott's agent, Weber van Wyk, but it has been learned that they have been unable to come to any arrangement that will convince Abbott to stay in South Africa.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis after the second Test against Sri Lanka in Cape Town said,

“

That was not the way we wanted. It was something that we didn't expect and it was out of our control. Kyle had already set up what he wanted to do. I don't agree with it but I respect it.

”

Abbott was one of the most promising fast bowlers for South Africa in recent times.

He has called it quits after playing just 10 Tests for South Africa, picking 39 wickets at an average of 21.31. He also played 28 ODIs and 21 T20Is for South Africa.

Rilee Rossouw, South Africa's left-handed batsman and a right arm off-spin bowler has also declared that he played his last match for South Africa.

Both players have signed a Kolpak deal with English county side, Hampshire.

CSA are expected to respond to the double whammy at the conclusion of the second Test at Newlands.

South Africa have won the first two Test matches and will be playing their 3rd Test on 12th January at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg against Sri Lanka.

More about Kolpak: A player is eligible for a Kolpak when he gives up the right to play for his country, meaning he is not classed as an overseas-player signing. The Kolpak ruling enables players from any nation with a trading relationship with the EU to freely play as a professional. The ruling, made by the European court of justice in May 2003, originally related to the Slovakia handball player Maros Kolpak who was released from his German club because of a quota on non-EU players. He claimed it was unfair and the court ruled in his favour.

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