Whitehaven have had to sign a new professional for 2022 after changes to the programme in West Indies.
Terance Warde had been re-signed for next season in the Cumbria League after an impressive debut campaign last year.
But the West Indies Cricket Board has subsequently extended their domestic season, meaning Warde would not arrive in the UK until June.
It would mean him missing at least seven games, virtually a third of the season, so reluctantly Whitehaven have had to change plans.
They have now signed Timycen Maruma an international Zimbabwean batsman/spinner who has previous experience in Britain.
The 33-year-old has only played in one Test for his country but has represented Zimbabwe 21 times in one day games and ten in T20.
Maruma is a hard-hitting middle-order batsman and leg-spinner who enjoyed a hugely successful first season in UK cricket.
He played in the Northern League for Lancaster in 2012 when he scored 800 runs and took 36 wickets.
His second season was with Balbriggan in the Republic of Ireland in 2018, scoring 673 runs (avge 48.07) and taking 25 wickets (avge 18.76).
A year later he was pro for Cherry Tree in the Ribblesdale League and despite suffering a shoulder injury still managed 705 runs (avge 47.00) and took 31 wickets (22.13).
