SCOTTISH cricket was last night beginning a global search for new players after winning their fight to make eligible players who have a Scots-born parent.

The International Cricket Council had previously limited eligibility criteria to place of birth and passport.

Craig Wright, the former Scotland captain, said this was an "incredibly significant" decision.

Roddy Smith, the chief executive of Cricket Scotland, was rewarded for years of lobbying the ICC for change.

He said: "Scotland does not issue its own passports, and the British passport has not been accepted by the council as it covers numerous member countries.

"It meant players who have Scots-born parents but were themselves born outwith this country were not eligible unless they moved to Scotland for a four-year qualification period. The issue has been a prominent one for a long time. Cricket was almost unique in Scottish sport by being unable to select such players."

The regulation that prevented Scotland from broadening their player pool did not apply to nations such as Ireland, who could recruit players from South Africa and Australia.

This news was not the only reason for Cricket Scotland to celebrate yesterday. They also learned they are one of the first two nations to be awarded extra cash under the ICC's Targeted Assistance and Performance Programme.

The money had been earmarked to help the higher ranked non-Test countries to close the gap on leading nations.

Smith added: "It will enable us to play more important international matches over the next three years, home and away."