Wiaan Mulder is taking a mature approach to his T20 Global League contract, as he gears up for his stint with the Stellenbosch Kings. 

It has been an amazing couple of years for the Gauteng-born all-rounder – from landing the captaincy for SA U19 last year to receiving a Lions contract under Geoffrey Toyana.

Many would say he was already living the dream up to this point, but while watching his younger brother play cricket at Menlo Park, he got a notification that has pushed his career even further forward.

‘I couldn’t believe that I was chosen. To be in the same changing room as the Proteas captain is extremely exciting, as it is my dream to play for my country,’ Mulder exclusively tells SA Cricket magazine.

The Global T20 league has changed quite a few young cricketers’ lives merely through the contracts alone, throwing a learning curve ball at them as they have to quickly pick up how to deal with a significant influx of money into their bank account.

Mulder, having already penned a deal with the Lions, has had some experience with lucrative financial rewards.

For the average 19-year-old, seeing these sorts of commas in their bank accounts could spark thoughts of thousands of ways to spend their money, but Mulder showed maturity beyond his years once again by saying that ‘I will invest it all.’

But besides the lucrative contract, playing with and against world-renowned stars is going to be one of the most important positives he’s going to take from the tournament.

‘I think it’s definitely going to be a success and it’s going to allow all South African cricketers an opportunity to show the world what we are about, which is extremely exciting,’ Mulder said about the tournament’s influence on cricket in South Africa.

‘It has been my dream to play either with or against the best players in the world and learn from them … this is going to be a great opportunity for me to learn about my game and to get other ideas from players who have been really successful, especially in the shorter format of the game.

‘A player I really look forward to playing with is Lasith Malinga. I have always wanted to face him because he has a unique bowling action.’

The T20 Global League kicks off in November, with the Monarchs’ first game at Boland Park, Paarl, against the Joburg Giants on the 4th.

Photo: Johan Rynners/Gallo Images