Colin Ackermann agrees three-year extension with Leicestershire

The Foxes' white-ball captain claimed world record T20 figures with 7-18 against Birmingham at Grace Road this summer before helping the Netherlands to the T20 World Cup Qualifier title

Leicestershire have signed Colin Ackermann to a new three-year contract that will keep the batsman at Grace Road through to the end of 2023.

Ackermann, 28, first joined the county on a two-year contract ahead of the 2017 season and has gone on to become a key member of Paul Nixon's squad across all formats, including leading the Foxes in both white-ball competitions.

After agreeing one-year extensions during 2017 and 2018, the batsman has now committed to at least three further seasons with the county after a year in which he scored seven half-centuries in the County Championship and became the first bowler in the history of T20 cricket to claim seven wickets in one innings.

"I am very pleased to have extended my contract by another three years. I have really enjoyed my time at the Fischer County Ground over the last three years so long may that continue," Ackermann commented.

"There have been quite a few personal highlights in the T20 side of things, and we have had a few good victories over Nottinghamshire in the last few years.

"We have definitely shown that we can beat the top teams in our North Group, which is fantastic to see."

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On the back of his county performances, Ackermann made his full international debut for the Netherlands in October, going on to average 40.75 across seven matches as the Dutch lifted the T20 World Cup Qualifier trophy in Dubai earlier this month.

Ackermann had previously represented South Africa at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup and led all batsmen in the country during the 2016-17 Sunfoil Series season with 883 runs for Warriors.

The batsman, who opened the season with a career-best 5-69 against Sussex to spin Leicestershire to their only win of the 2019 County Championship campaign, follows Harry Dearden, Sam Evans, Harry Swindells and Dieter Klein in signing new deals with the East Midlands county this off-season.

"We are a young squad and it is fantastic to see the local and younger guys to have that opportunity to make a name for themselves," Ackermann added,

"It is obviously not all going to come together right now but, in a year, or two’s time with the likes of Harry Dearden and Sam Evans having another year under their belt – it bodes well for the future."

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