Calcutta: For Wiaan Mulder, it was a dream come true after being called up to the South African squad for the ongoing ODI series versus Bangladesh.

“It’s still a bit of a dream,” a Cricket South Africa release quoted Mulder as saying. “It’s an absolute dream to spend time with guys like AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. They are going to be legends forever, so I’m going to try and feed off them and do my absolute best to become one of them one day. 

“I’m pretty optimistic.”

Mulder, who has two first-class hundreds and 33 wickets since making his debut last year, says he would like to develop into a “genuine all-rounder” who can contribute successfully with both bat and ball. He is another South Africa U-19 success story following in the steps of Kagiso Rabada, Andile Phehlukwayo and Aiden Markram, and will be following a similar recipe for success from his peers.  

“Something Markram told me sums it up,” he said. “He told me to go out there and be myself, I shouldn’t try to prove a point to anybody and be someone that I am not.”