Leicestershire sign Wiaan Mulder as 2022 overseas player

The South African allrounder had initially been due to sign last year, only for that arrangement to be cancelled due to the uncertainty at the time of his international schedule

South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder is to join Leicestershire as an overseas player in 2022.

The 23-year-old will represent the county in the County Championship and Royal London Cup, having initially been due to sign last year, only for that arrangement to be cancelled due to the uncertainty at the time of his international schedule.

In all, Mulder has made 23 appearances for the Proteas and was part of South Africa’s squad at the T20 World Cup.

He said: “I am very excited to join the Foxes family this upcoming season and grateful for the opportunity. We have an exciting squad and I hope to contribute a lot on and off the field during my time at the club.”

Mulder averages 36.20 in first-class cricket with the bat, with 108 wickets also to his name in red-ball cricket.

Claude Henderson, who was recently named as Leicestershire’s director of cricket, added: “We are very excited to have Wiaan joining us here at Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

“We are looking forward for our players to have the chance to benefit of working alongside an international cricketer, as well as seeing Wiaan in the colours of Leicestershire.”

^{Marcus Harris impressed as Leicestershire's red-ball overseas player in 2021}

Last year, Marcus Harris was the county’s solitary overseas player in red-ball cricket, proving a resounding success. He scored 655 runs in just eight games, with three centuries. He has opted not to return to the club, though, instead joining Gloucestershire.

Leicestershire responded to that news by releasing a statement, documenting their disappointment at the Australian’s decision.

“Marcus has been brilliant for us and has showed what he is capable of,” said Sean Jarvis, Leicestershire’s chief executive. “He handled himself with great professionalism at all times, and whilst disappointed we understand his position and we wish him well on his next chapter.

“For Leicestershire, we have to work within our budget and sustain our business in the appropriate way. Our budgets are always going to be tightly controlled and we have to work within those whilst we try and build our business further in order to reinvest. That will take time and we need the continued and growing support of our community.”

Naveen-ul-Haq and Josh Inglis both starred as an overseas duo in the T20 Blast; Naveen was the competition’s leading wicket-taker and Inglis its highest run-scorer, though the county did not make it out of the group stage.

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