ICC T20 World Cup 2022: "As Long As They'll Have Me, I Will Keep Coming Back For Them" - David Wiese Plans To Play T20 World Cup 2024 For Namibia

In the Vitality Blast, the Caribbean Premier League, and the Pakistan Super League, David Wiese has batted his team to nail-biting triumphs. While playing for some of those clubs, such as in the 2022 PSL, he has won trophies, but he has also lost a number of games.

He has, however, played for a sufficient amount of time (15 years) to be aware of how multi-team events operate. Why then was he among those who were saddened when Namibia couldn’t defeat UAE? 

There Is A Pride Playing For Your Country: David Wiese

“As a cricketer, you play in all of these different tournaments but it’s always nice to have that home base. It’s always nice to have a team you can resonate with, a team that is close to your heart and a team that you know their heart is in the right place,” David Wiese said.

“Being a tournament player, it’s quite often you’re in for four weeks and then out; and quite often about self-preservation: you do well in that tournament, you get picked up in the next one. It’s a different story playing for your country. There is a pride playing for your country.” 

Although David Wiese’s father is Namibian, he was born in South Africa, where he played for most of his professional career. The Namibian players and their team culture have wormed their way into his heart in the little more than a year after he made his debut for his new nation. Home is where the heart is, they say. 

“The attachment I have got for these guys, they are such hard-working guys, such good human beings, I just want the best for them. That’s just the main thing,” he said.

“I always believe good things happen to good people and it’s a really good bunch of guys, good, hard-working lads. The most disappointing part is that for them, they wouldn’t get the opportunity to showcase their skills in the next round.” 

Still A Lot Of Cricket Left In Me: David Wiese

Along with the additional USD $30,000, they would have gotten even if they had lost all of their Super12s matches. 

Due to the lack of any other broadcast games in 2022, this competition is most likely their team’s last opportunity to gain recognition until the 2024 T20 World Cup begins. 

Namibia is currently ranked fifth in the ICC’s Cricket World Cup League 2. In the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifying round, which will be held in Zimbabwe in June, the top three teams will proceed. Two of the participating teams will compete in the 2023 World Cup.

The enlarged 2024 T20 World Cup, which would feature 20 nations, will be a more practical objective for Namibia. They may get there in a number of ways, such as by placing among the top 12 in the rankings (they are presently 14th), or by competing in a regional qualifier. Whichever it is, they can count on Wiese wanting to participate in their plans. 

“There’s another World Cup in 2024 and that’s my next goal. I am still feeling good and playing as well as I ever have,” he said. “As long as they’ll have me, I will keep coming back for them.” 

When the next T20 World Cup is held, David Wiese will be 39, but he insists he is still far from done. “I’ve still got a lot of cricket left in me,” he said, pausing before adding. “For Namibia.” 

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