David Wiese officially named St Lucia Kings captain for CPL 2025 as Faf du Plessis ditches franchise

Defending Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions Saint Lucia Kings have announced a new captain for the upcoming season. Veteran all-rounder David Wiese, who has played for South Africa and Namibia, will replace Faf du Plessis as skipper for the 2025 edition of the Caribbean Premier League.

Faf du Plessis withdrew from the 2025 CPL season, citing personal reasons. He was set to play for Southern Brave in The Hundred but opted out of that tournament as well to undergo groin surgery sustained in the IPL. The batter wanted to use the August window for recovery to be fit for the SA20 later this year.

Thank You to the Saint Lucia Kings and All the Fans - David Wiese

David Wiese expressed gratitude to the Saint Lucia Kings and their fans after being named captain. Wiese promised that the squad would play with passion, unity, and heart throughout the season. He urged fans to create a memorable campaign for the franchise.

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"Thank you to the Saint Lucia Kings and all the fans for your belief and support. It is a huge honour to lead this team," Wiese said in a Saint Lucia Kings statement. "I am absolutely humbled to be named your captain. This season, we will be playing with passion, heart and unity.

"You will see us give everything for each other and for you. And fans, we need you with us to pack the stadiums, lift the vibe and let's paint Saint Lucia blue. Let's make this a special season," he added.

David Wiese Has Been a Part of the Family for a Long Time - Daren Sammy

Head coach Daren Sammy welcomed Wiese’s appointment as captain. Sammy stated that Wiese has had a long-standing association with the team over the years. He expressed excitement for the upcoming season, especially the home opener on August 23.

"David Wiese has been a part of the family for a long time. He has been with us for a number of years and has put on some excellent performances," Sammy said.

"We cannot wait to start our first home game on August 23rd. We know Saint Lucia Kings are the best fans and you will come out at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground and paint it blue, as you support our new captain and our team," he added.

David Wiese Played Key Role in Kings’ Title-Winning Campaign Last Season

David Wiese has been a key player for the Saint Lucia Kings since joining in 2021. He scored 121 runs at a strike rate of 168 and took 13 wickets with an economy under 8.5 during their 2024 title-winning run.

The Namibian all-rounder has scored 338 runs and taken 36 wickets across 26 CPL matches for the Kings. Notably, Wiese is the first full-time franchise captain from an Associate nation in a Test-playing country’s league.

He had led teams in the PSL and The Hundred in one-off roles. Saint Lucia will begin their CPL 2025 campaign against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons on Monday, August 18, in Antigua. The Kings have also bolstered their squad with overseas picks like Tim David, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Delano Potgieter.

Also read: Washington Sundar kept out of India-England combined XI from Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025