Cricket Namibia announces squad for World T20 qualifiers – Cricket News Update
Cricket Namibia named their preliminary squad for the upcoming International Cricket Council World Twenty20 Qualifier matches in the UAE, which are due to commence in March 2012. Namibia will have their first match on the 13th of March, where
they will take on Ireland in Dubai.
The initial line-up consists of 18 players, and will eventually be shortened to 14 by next week. “These are the best cricketers that Namibia cricket can put into the field. We have a really tough pool in the round robin stages of the tournament, but we feel
that these players will be able to get us in to the play offs of the competition,” said CEO of Cricket Namibia, Graham McMillan.
The ICC World T20 qualifiers span 72 matches, out of which two teams will emerge victorious and earn a spot in the World Twenty20, a tournament that will be hosted by Sri Lanka later this year in September. The Namibian cricket team has been placed in Group
B, and will be fighting it out with fellow contenders - Scotland, Ireland, Kenya, Oman, Uganda, USA, and Italy.
The side will be captained by all-rounder, Sarel Burger (whose half-century during the unofficial T20I series between Namibia and Kenya at Windhoek in November 2011 led his team to victory), while wicket-keeper, Raymond van Schoor (who was the opening batsman
at the Under-19 African Championships and scored a 119-ball century against Zambia) will serve as the vice-captain.
Other additions to the squad include Hendrik Geldenhuys, Gerhard Erasmus, Zhivago Groenewald, and Ian Opperman – all of whom have played in a number of List A matches.
Overall, the team has a good amalgam of experienced personnel in LP van der Westhuizen, Gerrie Snyman, and Christi Viljoen, and the youth such as Zhivago Groenewald, Gerhard Erasmus, and Bredell Wessels, while also including various Under-19 players.
Squad: Sarel Burger (captain), Raymond Van Schoor (vice-captain), Ewald Steenkamp, Louis van der Westhuizen, Craig Williams, Gerrie Snyman, Nicholaas Scholtz, Gerhard Erasmus, Ian Opperman, Christi Viljoen, Bernard Scholtz, Louis Klazinga,
Hendrik Geldenhuys, Zhivago Groenewald
Reserves: Bredell Wessels, Pikkie Ya France, Gj Dippenaar, Christopher Coombe