With the key signings of Tyron Koen, Aditya Adey, and Kian Hilton all completed, our attention now turns to the next crucial step: securing the right overseas player for the upcoming season. While a lot of research and conversations have already taken place, narrowing down our options and agreeing terms with the right player will be essential to complement our work on and off the field.
In recent years, we’ve faced some challenges in this area, and we thought it would be a good opportunity to give more detailed insight into the complexities and considerations involved in securing the ideal overseas professional for North Down Cricket Club. Here’s a closer look at what goes into the process and the ever-changing dynamics of finding the right ‘pro’.
The Impact of Global T20 Leagues
The rise of global T20 and T10 leagues has dramatically reduced the availability of overseas players willing to commit to a full season with a club like ours. Where we once had a long list of players to choose from, many now opt for short-term, lucrative deals in flashy tournaments. Indian players, for example, can earn more in a three-week inter-state T20 competition than they would in an entire season of club cricket in Northern Ireland. As a result, clubs like North Down struggle to attract top-tier talent, both financially and in terms of long-term commitment.
Mid-Season Departures
Even when we secure a player, there’s no guarantee they’ll stay for the entire season. Too often, players leave midway through when a better offer comes along, which can be extremely disruptive to our team dynamics and planning. It’s a frustrating reality that many clubs face these days, as the cricketing world becomes more transient.
A Seller’s Market
At the moment, the market heavily favors the players. Overseas professionals, especially the good ones, are in short supply, which gives them and their agents more leverage to demand higher fees or make promises that don’t always hold up. Clubs like North Down are often left in a weaker negotiating position, paying higher rates without any guarantee that the player will stay for the full season.
On top of this, the way clubs approach signing professionals has changed. Where clubs were once happy to change their overseas player each season in search of the perfect fit, now any club with a pretty decent player is more likely to re-sign them before the season even ends. This means fewer players make it to the open market, which reduces the pool of available candidates even further.
Visa and Coaching Challenges
Visa regulations and coaching requirements present another layer of difficulty. Many talented players from countries like India and Pakistan may hold coaching qualifications, but these aren’t recognized by UK authorities. While the ECB allows players to obtain these qualifications once they arrive in the UK, Cricket Ireland takes a stricter stance, requiring players to already have these qualifications before applying for a visa. This makes it more difficult for Northern Irish clubs like ours to bring in overseas professionals, as the process is more restrictive here compared to other parts of the UK.
Southern Hemisphere Player Availability
South African players have traditionally been some of the most reliable overseas professionals. However, their domestic season starts in September, and many of them are recalled by their coaches in mid-to-late August, which cuts short their availability for us. Likewise, Australian and New Zealand players often prefer to base themselves in the south of England, closer to London and with potential county cricket opportunities, which reduces the number of players interested in playing in Northern Ireland.
Using Our Global Network
In our search for the right overseas professional, we leverage our many contacts around the world such as former players and other former players from NCU clubs to get potential ‘leads’, as well as solid references and background checks on the players we’re looking at. This helps ensure we get insight into both their abilities and their character before making a final decision.
The Legacy of Great Overseas Players – Lamba and Khan
Looking back on North Down’s rich history, it’s impossible not to mention some of the standout overseas professionals who have made a lasting impact at The Green. Two names, in particular, stand out: Raman Lamba and Taimur Khan.
In the early 1980s, Raman Lamba, a brilliant Indian international cricketer, arrived at North Down and helped elevate the club’s profile. With over 50 ODI caps for India, including a Man of the Series award against Australia, Lamba was a standout player. His presence, charisma, and on-field performances helped raise North Down’s status in the NCU. Though he played in a moderately successful era for the club, Lamba’s impact was immeasurable, and he would undoubtedly be a star in today’s T20 world.
Fast forward to 1999, and Taimur Khan, captain of Pakistan ‘A’, arrived at North Down. His aggressive fast bowling and powerful middle-order batting were key to ushering in what we call North Down’s Third Golden Era. Khan’s leadership on and off the field propelled the club to sustained success in both the Senior League and Challenge Cup. In today’s game, with his all-round abilities, he would be a prime candidate for top T20 leagues around the world.
The irony, of course, is that players like Lamba and Khan, who built their legacies in Northern Ireland club cricket, would be hard to come by today. The shift in the market and the rise of T20 leagues means that players of their caliber are now chasing more lucrative opportunities in franchise cricket around the globe.
For more context on our recent experiences with overseas professionals, refer to Appendix B, and for an overview of the challenges other clubs face, see Appendix A. These difficulties are common across the Northern Cricket Union and North West Union, but they only serve to strengthen our resolve in finding the perfect player for North Down.
Appendix A – Overseas Players 2024
Many clubs in the 2024 season faced similar challenges with their overseas professionals. Here’s a summary of how different clubs managed their overseas players this year:
- Waringstown – Bilawal Bhatti played most of the season but missed the final two games. His performance with the bat was below expectations, despite being signed as an all-rounder.
- Lisburn – Faiz Fazal, a veteran Indian player, continues to perform well and has been retained by Lisburn. At over 40 years old, Fazal is now focused on settling permanently in the UK, which allowed him to commit fully to the season. However, his family travels with him, making him unsuitable for North Down’s shared accommodation setup.
- Woodvale – Ludwig Kaestner left in mid-August, leaving the team without their overseas player for the final stages of the season.
- Cliftonville – Raut, another veteran Indian player, completed the season but travels with his family, which, like Fazal, makes him unsuitable for clubs like North Down that provide shared accommodation.
- CSNI – Their original overseas player pulled out just before the season started, leaving them without a professional until they brought in Archibald as a replacement. While Archibald saw out the rest of the season, his performances were only moderate.
- Instonians – Faced difficulties when their first choice overseas player pulled out late. The replacement, a veteran Sri Lankan, appeared unfit and left after just a few games, leaving the team short for much of the season.
- CIYMS – CIYMS had a South African professional, but he returned home mid-August, which left the club scrambling at a critical time of the season.
- Muckamore – Muckamore had an unfortunate experience with their Indian professional, who underperformed and was sent home after only a few weeks, leaving the club to manage without an overseas player for much of the season.
- Carrick – Ruan Haasbroek left mid-August, following the pattern of early departures, which disrupted their plans for the remainder of the season.
Appendix B – Recent NDCC Overseas Players
Here’s a summary of North Down Cricket Club’s recent experience with overseas professionals:
2021: Gayan Maneeshan
In 2021, North Down opted for a lower-budget player, Gayan Maneeshan. While his performance with the bat matched expectations, his bowling was ineffective, as expected. Gayan contributed positively to the club environment, particularly with the juniors, and his fielding was excellent. However, he didn’t produce that one big innings, which left his impact underappreciated by the end of the season.
2022: Neil Brand
For 2022, the club aimed for a higher-profile player and signed Neil Brand, who came with an impressive CV as a South African Test cricketer. However, his tenure at North Down was overshadowed by a lack of engagement with the broader club. Brand spent much of his time traveling to England to play as a sub for extra income, showing little interest in youth development or the wider club.
2023: Andile Mogakane / Naushad Shaikh
In 2023, the club focused more on personality and work ethic. Initially, we secured Andile Mogakane, a young South African who came highly recommended as a hardworking and committed player. Unfortunately, at the last minute, Mogakane was called into the South African Academy, a completely unforeseen problem that left North Down scrambling for a replacement. Naushad Shaikh was brought in late, and while he had some success with the ball, he struggled with the bat and never quite settled. Shaikh left midway through the season, leaving the club short-handed.
2024: Dian Forrester / Kerwin Mungroo
In 2024, North Down acted early, securing the services of Dian Forrester, a young South African recommended by Coubus Pienaar from the University of Pretoria. At the time of signing, Forrester hadn’t yet played a single first-class match, let alone the five required for a UK visa. However, in a stroke of luck, he quickly met this requirement and performed so well that he was called into the South African Academy—yet another unforeseen situation that left the club without a professional. The club then brought in Kerwin Mungroo, who made an immediate impact, taking key wickets early in the season. Unfortunately, Mungroo had to return home in mid-August, but he left a positive mark with his infectious energy and his work with the club’s juniors.
Positive Conclusion
Despite the challenges we’ve faced in recent years with overseas professionals, North Down Cricket Club remains confident and committed to finding the right player who will not only complement our squad but also embrace the club’s ethos both on and off the field. With our key signings in place and ongoing research and conversations with contacts around the globe, we’re in a strong position to secure a high-quality professional who can make a lasting impact. Every year brings its own set of challenges, but with careful planning, perseverance, and a little luck, we believe that the right overseas player will be part of our continued success at The Green for the coming season and beyond.
IPS
