Colin Ackermann has taken over from Paul Horton as Leicestershire’s new captain across formats. Ackermann had previously led the club’s white-ball teams.

“It is obviously a huge honour and privilege to captain this club,” Ackermann said. “Nico [Paul Nixon, the head coach] approached me a couple of weeks ago and asked me if I wanted to do it, and obviously it was an easy decision for me.

“Paul Horton did a fantastic job over the last two years. He led the team very well, but his job is not finished just yet. I will still lean on him for advice throughout the season, as well as Chris Wright and Mark Cosgrove, the other senior players in the team.”

Ackermann signed up with Leicestershire on a two-year deal in 2017 and had a watershed season last year, when he topped the club’s run charts in the One-Day Cup, as well as the T20 Blast. He also snared 7-18, the first-ever seven-wicket haul in T20 cricket, against the Birmingham Bears.

“We are absolutely delighted that Colin has taken on the captaincy role,” Nixon said. “It is important that our captain plays in all formats. Colin impressed during the T20 campaign with his leadership skills. He has the respect of everybody in the club and we look forward to an exciting time ahead.

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“We would also like to thank Paul Horton for being the previous captain and continuing to be a role model as well as a key senior member of the team.”

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Leicestershire Colin AckermannPaul Nixon