Dane Vilas to call time on Lancashire career at the end of 2023 season

The South African will leave the county cricket scene completely after seven seasons at Emirates Old Trafford following the conclusion of the current season

Dane Vilas will leave Lancashire at the end of the season after opting to retire from county cricket.

The 38-year-old, who served as captain during four of his seven seasons at the club, will continue his career in his homeland in the SA20.

During seven years at Emirates Old Trafford Vilas has played over 200 times for Lancashire, racking up over 7,000 all-format runs.

His stint as skipper included winning promotion to County Championship Division One and three times guiding the club to T20 Blast Finals Day.

Vilas led Lancashire for four seasons and on three occasions they reached T20 Blast Finals Day  (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Vilas signed on as an overseas player from 2021 after his status as a Kolpak player expired after the United Kingdom left the European Union.

Keaton Jennings took over as captain at the start of the 2023 season.

"It has been an extremely difficult decision to call time on my county cricket career and one that I have thought long and hard about," he said in a statement. "However, I feel that the end of this season is the right time for me and for my family.

"I have enjoyed a fantastic career, from making my first-class debut for Gauteng in 2006, to the honour and pride of playing Test match cricket for South Africa, before moving to the UK in 2017 to take on a new challenge and making Emirates Old Trafford my home for the last seven seasons.

Vilas' attention will turn to the SA20 in January (Sportzpics)

"It was one of the greatest honours of my career to be named captain of the Red Rose, to lead a brilliant group of players for four seasons and to represent our members and supporters – who have all been amazing to me, and my family, throughout my time at the club.

"I would like to thank everybody who has been on this journey with me not only at Lancashire but also for the last 17 years, from my family and friends to all of the players and coaches who I have shared a dressing room with."

Currently playing for Lancs in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, Vilas will take his leave following the final rounds of the Championship in September.

Lancashire travel to Northamptonshire, have home games against Middlesex and Nottinghamshire, before signing off the summer against Kent at Canterbury.

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