Namibia's David Wiese Retires from International Cricket After T20 World Cup

Namibia's David Wiese, a seasoned all-rounder, has announced his retirement from international cricket after the conclusion of their T20 World Cup 2024 group stage match against England. The decision marks the end of a remarkable career for the 39-year-old, who has played a pivotal role in Namibia's rise in international cricket.

Wiese's retirement announcement came after he was dismissed by Jofra Archer in the final over of Namibia's chase in a rain-curtailed match in North Sound. As he walked off the field, he received a warm ovation from the crowd and handshakes from the England players.

"I'm 39 years old now, so in terms of international cricket, I don't know if there's much left in me," Wiese said in the post-match press conference. "I've had a lot of good times with Namibia, and to play my last game for them possibly at a World Cup against a world-class team like England, it just seemed like the right time."

Wiese, who typically bats in the middle order, was promoted to No. 3 for Namibia's chase of 126 in 10 overs. He smashed 27 off 12 with two fours and two sixes before holing out at long-on.

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus praised Wiese's impact on the team. "He's a great guy on the field in terms of performance, but off the field, he is someone we have really learned a lot from and he's inspired us to new heights and greater heights," Erasmus said.

England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow also commended Wiese's career. "I think it's a huge credit to him the career that he's had in international cricket and he's going to be a big miss for those guys," Bairstow said.

Originally from South Africa, Wiese became eligible to play for Namibia five years after his decision to go Kolpak in 2016. He made his debut for Namibia in the first round of the 2021 T20 World Cup, where he played a key role in getting them to the Super 12 stage.

He has played in three consecutive T20 World Cups for Namibia now. Wiese was the standout performer in Namibia's only win in the 2024 campaign, returning figures of 3 for 28 against Oman before starring with both bat and ball in the Super Over.

In total, Wiese has played 34 T20Is for Namibia, scoring 532 runs and returning 35 wickets. He has also played nine ODIs for them, scoring 228 runs and taking six wickets. In all, he has played 54 T20Is and 15 ODIs.

While Wiese is retiring from international cricket, he could continue playing franchise cricket. In the last 12 months, he has played in various leagues around the world, including the CSA T20 Challenge, the PSL, SA20, Hundred, and the Blast.

Tags: #DavidWiese, #NamibiaCricket, #T20WorldCup, #Retirement, #AllRounder