SNCL clubs may exploit a new regulation by fielding three overseas players.

A limit of two – one professional and one amateur – has been in force for the last decade. However, Cricket Scotland’s new cash-for-coaches scheme could open the door to more foreigners.

The governing body is offering £3000 and £2000 respectively towards the cost of hiring either a Scottish or overseas coach.

Officials already have confirmed a Scot could participate as a player-coach but have yet to clarify the position of overseas coaches where a club already has two foreign players.

Steve Paige, Cricket Scotland’s head of community development, said: “There would be no problem with a Scot employed as a coach playing for a club.

“I would imagine it would be up to the competitions committee to decide whether an overseas coach could play in addition to the normal quota of foreigners. The fact is we are hoping the majority of clubs will go for a Scottish coach.”

Paige, overseeing the cash-for-coaches scheme for the governing body, expects a flood of funding applications before the January deadline.