KENT chief executive Paul Millman has appealed to player associations across the world to negotiate with the Indian Cricket Leagues and the England and Wales Cricket Board to prevent an all-out legal war and a potential crisis in county cricket.

The county’s two close-season recruits Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood could yet find themselves in the middle of a legal minefield should the ECB’s hastily drawn-up player regulations prevent them from honouring contractual obligations to Kent this summer.

Though early indications show Mahmood may be allowed to play for Kent from next month, the county remain fearful that Kemp may be barred from joining them for a third stint.

Mr Millman said: “This is moving rapidly, even as we speak, but as we stand we have filed our player registration applications for Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood, Justin as a Kolpak signing and Azhar as a newly qualified British citizen, and we await the board’s response.

“There are so many different interpretations floating around right now it’s difficult to know which to believe and it’s not my job to pre-empt what the ECB’s stance will be.

“All I hope is that pragmatism will prevail, otherwise this will end up in the courts.

“If these Indian leagues truly want to help cricket, then they must find a window to play their games that doesn’t conflict with the international programme or with domestic schedules in other countries.”

It is known that Kemp, who played four Tests for South Africa before retiring from international cricket in December, signed a letter of intent to join Kent last summer, well before the end of his central contract with the Proteas and before any approach by the Indian franchises.

In the interim, Kemp agreed a seven-week stint for ICL franchise Hyderabad Heroes having first turned down an approach by the rival Indian Premier League, simply because that would have clashed with his contractual commitments to Kent.

Having seen the ECB move the goalposts since, Kemp now finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place having simply tried to do the right thing by Kent.

Mr Millman added: “I’ve spoken with Justin extensively, he’s locked in hotel rooms with dozens of other potential county cricketers out there in India who are all left feeling a bit rudderless.

“For me this is an issue that FICA (The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations) and the PCA (Professional Cricketers Association) may have to get involved with.

“Perhaps they should be looking to broker a deal between the warring factions.”

Mr Millman added: “We have lots of documentation going back to 2006 stating Justin’s intent to play county cricket for us long term.

“He’s just turned 30 and has said to me on a regular basis his greatest wish now is to play cricket for Kent.

“All he was looking to do was supplement that with off-season opportunities, as most overseas players look to do.

“His preference was to play IPL, but because that clashed with county cricket. He turned it down. Since then the war has escalated and retribution is being sought against players are about to go out on the pitch over in India.”

Facing up to a worst case scenario that might see Kent lose the services of Mahmood, Kemp and their preferred overseas option, Yasir Arafat, who has yet to receive Pakistan Cricket Board clearance to re-join Kent, Mr Millman added: “If Pakistan put a stop on Yasir Arafat and the ECB prevented Azhar and Justin from joining us then the consequences would be catastrophic, we would be left in a hole.

“But should we be allowed to sign two out of the three, then I think we’d have a fighting chance.

“There would probably be a view among our cricket committee that, at this late stage, there wouldn’t be anyone available to match Justin’s capabilities.”