Red tape is holding up the arrival of Oswestry Cricket Club’s latest South African import, frustrated team bosses revealed today.

The club has now turned to North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson to see if he can hurry up the process of granting the correct papers to first class cricketer Wessel Hartslief, who has already had to cancel flights and his missed the start of the season with the team he is contracted to.

The cricketer signed a contract with the club which started on April 25 but tougher immigration rules means he has had to cancel three booked flights and the team has had to soldier on without him.

Club captain Mike Robinson said today he has written to Mr Paterson, the club’s patron, to see if his influence could help in speeding things up.

He said: “We are experiencing considerable problems with regards to getting our South African player for 2009, Wessel Hartslief, into the country.

“The red tape involved in dealing with the UK Border Agency means we are no nearer getting Wessel into the country than we were when we started the process seven weeks ago.

Permit

“Last year, we obtained a work permit for our South African Warrick Finn within just 10 days of our initial inquiry.

“The cricket season is already three weeks old and he has given up his job in South Africa.

“He has had to cancel three booked flights so far – all of which incurs additional expense to our poverty-stricken club.

“I was told that our application for a sponsor’s licence was “still under consideration”.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said the department is in the throes of the “biggest shake up to the immigration system in a generation”, adding: “The system is strict but it is also speedy – we complete most visa applications within a week.

“We have taken many steps to ensure that everyone – including foreign sportsmen who make an important contribution to the UK – know about these tough new rules.”

By Iain St John