Middlesex bring in Keshav Maharaj for Championship, Blast stint

Middlesex have recruited Keshav Maharaj as an overseas player for the first four months of the 2023 season.

Maharaj, South Africa's left-arm spinner, will arrive ahead of Middlesex's third Championship game against Nottinghamshire on April 20 and will be available for eight four-day fixtures in total, as well as the entirety of the T20 Blast.

Alan Coleman, Middlesex's director of cricket, said that it was "essential" to bring in a "world-class talent" ahead of the club's first season in the Championship's top division since 2017, and that he would play a role mentoring Luke Hollman and Thilan Walallawita.

"We are delighted that Keshav has signed for Middlesex this season and are really excited to have someone of his calibre and experience joining us for the first four months of the season," Coleman said. "The young spinners we have in our squad will benefit enormously from having Keshav with us this year."

Maharaj will be playing for his third different county, after previous stints with Lancashire and Yorkshire. He has taken 72 wickets at 21.72 across his 13 games in the Championship.

"I'm really excited to be linking up with such a professional and experienced county and am looking forward to wearing the Middlesex colours and calling the Home of Cricket my home," he said.

Middlesex previously announced that Pieter Malan would return as an overseas player after a successful stint last year.

Elsewhere, Richard Gleeson has re-signed with Lancashire on a two-year, T20-only contract.