Namibia’s renowned all-rounder, David Wiese, who also played for South Africa, has officially retired from international cricket. This announcement came following Namibia’s defeat against England in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
In his final match, Wiese showcased his talent by claiming one wicket and scoring a rapid 27 runs off 12 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes. Despite his efforts, Namibia fell short, losing the 10-over match by 41 runs.
Reflecting on his retirement, Wiese stated, “The next T20 World Cup is two years away. At 39, I don’t see much left for me in international cricket. I still want to play for a few more years as I feel I have much to contribute. Ending my career with Namibia at a World Cup against a top-tier team like England feels right.”
Wiese’s international career began with South Africa in a T20I against Sri Lanka in 2013. He played for South Africa until 2016, participating in white-ball cricket and being part of the squad in the 2016 T20 World Cup in India. Throughout his tenure with South Africa, he played 20 T20Is and six ODIs, amassing 194 runs and taking 33 wickets.
After a five-year hiatus, Wiese returned to international cricket with Namibia, joining their squad for the 2021 T20 World Cup. His first game for Namibia was against the UAE, leading to their historic victory against the Netherlands. Wiese played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 66 off 40 balls to help chase a 165-run target.
Wiese’s performance in the 2021 T20 World Cup was exceptional, ending as the sixth-highest run-scorer with 227 runs from eight games and six wickets. His contributions remained vital for Namibia, where he played nine ODIs and 34 T20Is, scoring 760 runs and taking 41 wickets.
David Wiese’s retirement marks the end of a distinguished international career filled with remarkable achievements and memorable moments for both South Africa and Namibia.
