South African-born Namibia’s star all-rounder, David Wiese, hangs up his boots in international cricket. The 39-year-old was seen shaking hands with England players and waving to the crowd and his teammates after his 12-ball, 27-run knock in Namibia’s last league stage fixture game against England at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua, on Saturday (June 15).
Wiese confirmed his retirement in the post-match press conference and claimed that this was the best time and place to bid farewell to international cricket. “Next year’s T20 World Cup is still two years away, and I’m 39 now, so I’m not sure how much I have left in international cricket.”
“I still like to play the game for a couple more years, and I feel like I’ve still got a lot to contribute and play. But I just feel like what better place to end a special career for me with Namibia. I’ve had a lot of good times with them, 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,” added Wiese to the media reporters. 
Debut and Career
Wiese made his T20I and ODI debuts for South Africa in 2013 and 2015, respectively, and represented South Africa in the 2016 T20 World Cup. Born in Roodepoort, the all-rounder ended his international career with South Africa after opting for a Kolpak deal and signing a three-year contract with Sussex.
After completing five years of the Kolpak deal, Wiese became eligible to play for Namibia. He debuted for Namibia in the 2021 T20 World Cup and played a pivotal role in qualifying for the Super 12s.
Since his debut, Wiese has represented Namibia in three consecutive World Cups. In the T20 World Cup 2024, he played an instrumental role in Namibia’s sole victory, helping them defeat Oman in the Super Over.
Wiese was a vital cog in Namibia’s squad. He played 34 T20Is for Namibia, scoring 532 runs and 35 wickets. Additionally, he represented Namibia in 9 ODIs, scoring 228 runs and taking 6 wickets. Overall, he has played 54 T20Is and 15 ODIs.
The veteran all-rounder plays in different franchise leagues across the globe and is likely to continue playing franchise cricket.
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