David Wiese, 36, played in 20 T20Is for South Africa during 2013-16. Wiese is currently playing for Susses County Club in England’s Vitality Blast competition and is likely to play for Namibia in the T20 World Cup ‘qualifiers’ this October against Sri Lanka[/caption]
* Respective boards have to bear costs for additional players
* Priyanjan, Gunaratne, and Angelo Perera possible new faces in SL’s World Cup squad
* South Africa player David Wiese to play for Namibia which meets SL in qualifiers
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has allowed participating nations in the upcoming T20 World Cup to bring 15 players and eight officials for the tournament, to be held from 17 October to 14 November in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) --consisting seven emirates including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah-- and Oman.
“The cost of the remaining members of the squad (to travel to the World Cup) will have to be borne by the board,” a senior Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) official confirmed on Saturday (14).
“The ICC has also allowed all participating nations to bring additional players with their squads because of the Covid-19 situation and bio-secure bubble but the concerned boards will have to bear the costs of these additional players,” an official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had confirmed Press Trust of India (PTI) on Friday (13).
“The ICC bears the expenses of only 15 players and eight officials,” he had further added.
Sri Lanka to play in Abu Dhabi first
Sri Lanka are to play the first or qualifying round of the World Cup, to be held from 17-23 October, in Abu Dhabi, along with three other countries of their Group (A): Ireland, Namibia, and Netherlands.
All matches of the other Group (B) in the first/qualifying round are to be played in Oman, it was reported earlier. The countries in that Group are Bangladesh, Oman, Papua New Guinea, and Scotland.
Two countries each from those two Groups will then qualify for the next round, named Super 12s, which will be staged from 24 October entirely in the UAE.
Those 12 teams will be split into two groups of six each. This will be followed by three knockout games, two semi-finals, and the final, on Sunday, 14 November.
Mathews no yet available himself
The SLC confirmed yesterday that they will finalise contracts with the national squad soon. Sources said there is a major possibility that players such as Ashan Priyanjan, Angelo Perera, and Asela Gunaratne who are now featuring in the SLC Invitational T20 League in Kandy are most likely to feature in the final Sri Lanka squad for the World Cup.
Meanwhile former Sri Lanka Captain has not yet confirmed his availability for selection and is still in his ‘self-imposed’ non-availability.
David Wiese to strengthen Namibia
Media in Namibia this week said former South Africa international David Wiese had confirmed his “immediate playing future with Namibia men’s national squad, that will see his be available for selection for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”
Wiese is currently playing for Susses County Club in England’s Vitality Blast competition. He becomes eligible to represent Namibia as his father had been born in the country. Namibian Head Coach Pierre de Bruyn had confirmed the development to the Namibian media.