It's been a confusing and controversial few weeks for Mike Frost whose participation in the Zim Afro T10 competition looks to be over before it even got started.

The 23 year-old Irish passport holder had hoped to be playing in the tournament for Cape Town Samp Army as a local player due to his links with the country where he played in his younger days.

The tournament Instagram account announced that he had been drafted on September 8th.

"The Cape Town Samp Army welcome Michael Frost—because a cool head and icy nerves make for some chilling performances!"

However, given that he has played this year for the Munster Reds in the interprovincial white-ball competitions, it seems that the controversy raised over his eligibility meant he won't be classed as a local after all.

A posting on one of the main cricket forums in Zimbabwe said: So Michael Frost travelled all the way to Zim but to be told he wasn't allowed to play.....

The left-arm spinner has also featured for the Ireland Wolves and Academy in their rare outings so is considered as being on the Cricket Ireland pathway.

His older brother Alistair featured last month for Zimbabwe A in five matches against South Africa A scoring two fifties.

Both brothers have played for Malahide in the Leinster Premiership.