Fast bowler Hardus Viljoen has left Northern Cape ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season in South Africa.
Viljoen was released by Boland in division one and moved to Northern Cape in division two in 2024.
“You look at that stage when Boland let me go, I was the leading wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup, I was in the top four leading wicket-takers in red-ball cricket. So, I didn’t have a bad season at all,” Viljoen told SportsBoom.
“So, for me, it came as a bit of a shock. But I think every franchise in the country has its own plans and how it wants to go about the future. And, yeah, at the end of the day, it wasn’t a nice experience.
“When you lose your contract, you doubt your future, what the outcome of your future might be. Those types of thoughts go through your mind. But at the end of the day, you need to decide – are you going to sit back, or are you just going to let it happen? Or are you actually going to do something about it and be fitter, be better, be stronger, be a lot more consistent?
“It’s almost like you have to go back and reflect a little bit on your game, on yourself as an individual. Like, where do you see yourself go? Because you can easily fall into the trap of starting to doubt your ability and doubt your future.”
Last month, he was with North West in the 4-Day Domestic Series, division one, on a one-match loan. He took a five-wicket haul against the Titans at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
“Obviously, this came at a very fortunate time for me and thanks to the North West Dragson and Craig Alexander who gave me this opportunity to come and represent North West,” added Viljoen.
“I think I showcased that my fitness isn’t a problem. I think those days of age forcing players to retirement are long gone out the window. I think the game has evolved so much that players’ careers literally end when they decide to end.
“Or when, obviously, if there’s other complications that forces you almost to retire. But I’m by no means done with any cricket for the next couple of years.”
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This week, chief executive officer Jason Sathiaseelan confirmed to Club Cricket SA Viljoen has joined the Tuskers. The Tuskers, who have been promoted to division one after winning three titles during the 2024-25 season, have also signed seamer Daryn Dupavillon from the Dolphins.
“If it happens that another division one team comes across and they put something on the table, then we can review that and see where we are,” Viljoen said in March 2025.
“But like I said, for any cricketer that has been playing division two cricket, it is a huge aspiration to play division one cricket. So that’s the most important thing for me is, wherever I go, is to give my 100 percent.”
Viljoen has played one Test match for South Africa. It was against England at the Wanderers in 2016.
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