Freddie signs for EUT20 Belgium side

May 23, 2026

SUFFOLK all-rounder Freddie Heldreich is off to Belgium for the new EUT20 League.

The 24-year-old left-arm wrist spinner and middle order bat has been signed up by Liege Red Lions for the inaugural edition of the league.

Five city-based franchises will compete at the 12 Stars Cricket Club, Hofstade between June 6th and 14th. They will each play four group games, before entering a play-off format.

Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis is captain of the 18-strong Liege Red Lions squad, which includes ex-Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik and former Australian bowler Peter Siddle.

Heldreich, who spent five years on the staff at Northamptonshire before being released at the end of last season, said: “I was away in Australia over the winter when my agent contacted me.

“He said he was putting me into the draft for the tournament as it was at the beginning of June and no English players contracted to first-class counties would be available.

“As it is the first year of the tournament no-one really knew what calibre of players would be available, and Herschelle Gibbs, who is head coach of Liege Red Lions, picked me.

“I don’t see myself playing in any of the matches because of the quality of the squad we have got, which includes a world-class leg spinner in Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane,

“However, it is a great opportunity to mix with some top-class players who can help me improve my game by bowling to them and speaking to them and build some good connections.

“By spending time with players of that calibre you are going to build connections so that maybe in six months’ time if Faf du Plessis’ main spinner goes down injured he may call me.”

Heldreich, a white-ball specialist, suffered a tear in the AC joint of his shoulder injury last season just two weeks before the start of the Vitality T20 Blast.

He said: “Northants had said I needed to do well in the Blast to earn a new contract, so the timing couldn’t have been worse.

“I was out for six weeks and when I came back from injury, I wasn’t sure if my shoulder would allow me to get back to where I was before.

“When I returned, I initially played as a batter only because I was nervous about my shoulder mobility, especially if I had to dive for the ball.

“When the 50-over cup came round, Northants decided to go down the route of giving younger players a chance, but there were no hard feelings. Professional sport is a cut-throat business.”

Heldreich, who took more than 50 wickets for the county in 44 Blast and 11 One Day Cup matches, has been playing for Bury St Edmunds in the AVL East Anglian Premier League this season.

He has so far also featured in all four of Suffolk’s NCCA NV Play One Day Trophy Group One games.

“I should be available to play for Suffolk, if selected, in all three formats this season, although if any opportunities come up to play, say, for a first-class county 2nd XI, I will make myself available” he continued.

“I never realised until I was no longer on the circuit how important it is to look after numero uno. You need to take wickets and score runs to catch the eye again.

“Playing in a winning team is all well and good, but you need to be taking five-fers and scoring hundreds, otherwise counties will look at those players who are.

“I definitely want to get back on the circuit, whether that’s playing franchise cricket or county cricket, because the two don’t really go hand-in-hand anymore.”

Heldreich is pictured bowling above for Suffolk in last Sunday’s NCCA NV Play One Day Trophy Group One game versus Cambridgeshire at Mildenhall CC.

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