CPL star Wiese returns to Caribbean in Namibia squad

WINDHOEK, Namibia (CMC):

Seasoned all-rounder David Wiese will return to the Caribbean with Namibia after being included in their 15-man squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup.

The South Africa-born player, who turns 39 later this month, has featured extensively in the Caribbean Premier League for Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Lucia Kings, and brings valuable knowledge of conditions to his side for the June 1-29 showpiece also being co-hosted by the United States.

Wiese has taken 302 wickets from 377 T20s while gathering 4281 runs at a strike rate of 144 with his dependable lower order batting.

Having also campaigned in the Indian Premier League, along with the Sri Lanka, South Africa and Bangladesh franchise leagues, Wiese will be the most experienced member of the Namibia side contesting their third straight T20 World Cup.

The squad will be led by Gerhard Erasmus, a 29-year-old off-spinning all-rounder who has already scored an unbeaten hundred and nine half-centuries in his 57 T20 Internationals.

There is no room, however, for 23-year-old batting sensation Nicol Loftie-Eaton who blasted the fastest-ever T20 International hundred earlier this year with a 33-ball knock against Nepal.

Media reports say the left-hander is currently the subject of disciplinary proceedings.

Off-spinner Pikky Ya France, 34, who featured in the qualifiers and 24-year-old right-hander Shawn Fouche, who played his only two T20Is earlier this year, have been overlooked.

Overall, 12 players who featured in the World Cup qualifiers have been named in the 15-man squad.

Namibia dominated the qualifiers to become the first team from the region to qualify for the showpiece.

The southwestern African nation find themselves in a difficult Group B alongside the likes of defending champions England and powerhouses Australia, along with Scotland and Oman.

Their two opening games will be staged at Kensington Oval in Barbados with the last two at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua.

NAMIBIA – Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Zane Green, Michael Van Lingen, Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Niko Davin, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, JP Kotze, David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger, PD Blignaut.