Cape Town - Proteas Test captain Graeme Smith has been granted Irish citizenship, the ESPNcricinfo website reports.
Smith, 32, married Irish singer Morgan Deane in August 2011, and the pair have been in Dublin in recent days to tie up the details.
While the development will have no immediate implications for Surrey, the county with whom Smith has a long-term relationship, it would mean that, should he retire from international cricket, he would be eligible to play for them without counting as an overseas player.
Smith will lead the Proteas in a much-anticipated Test series against Australia next month.
The first of three Tests starts in Centurion on February 12.
Graeme is officially an Irish citizen as of today! - Morgan Deane on Instagram
Smith, 32, married Irish singer Morgan Deane in August 2011, and the pair have been in Dublin in recent days to tie up the details.
While the development will have no immediate implications for Surrey, the county with whom Smith has a long-term relationship, it would mean that, should he retire from international cricket, he would be eligible to play for them without counting as an overseas player.
Smith will lead the Proteas in a much-anticipated Test series against Australia next month.
The first of three Tests starts in Centurion on February 12.
Graeme is officially an Irish citizen as of today! - Morgan Deane on Instagram