Loftie-Eaton left out from Eagles squad for T20 World Cup
Cricket
Expectations will be high after Namibia's stirring performances at their last two World Cup appearances.
Highly rated all-rounder Gerhard Erasmus will lead Namibia’s Richelieu Eagles for the third consecutive time in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but will not have T20I’s fastest centurion Nicol Loftie-Eaton in the 16-member squad for the tournament in the Caribbean and the USA in June.Loftie-Eaton (23) is currently the subject of disciplinary proceedings, after being sent home early from the African Games in Ghana during March, where he was also replaced as team captain by Malan Kruger after the first two losses to Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
Details of the transgression were not made public. Cricket Namibia told ESPNcricinfo they “cannot comment before the matter is resolved”.
Loftie-Eaton, against Nepal in February, set a new world record for the fastest T20I century, bringing up the landmark in just 33 balls.
Another notable exclusion was experienced 34-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder Pikky Ya France, who has been involved with the national team since 2011 and was part of the squad that made it out of the first round at the 2021 T20 World Cup – Namibia's best result at the highest level.
However, Namibia have included nine players who were part of that outfit, headlined by South Africa-born allrounder and T20 specialist David Wiese, who has experience in leagues around the world and most recently represented the Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge, and left-arm quick Ruben Trumpelmann.
Right-arm medium-pacer Jack Brassell, who was part of Namibia's Under-19 World Cup squad that played in South Africa earlier this year and has since played seven T20Is, has also been named. Brassell was Namibia's joint-leading bowler at the tournament with six wickets at an average of 15.66.
Brassell (19) is the second youngest team member selected, along woth 18-year-old right-arm spin bowler PD Blignaut.
Namibia will rely heavily on pace and seam, with Trumpelmann, Ben Shikongo, Tangeni Lungameni, Wiese, Brassell and Dylan Leicher all among the options.
While the ICC needs teams to name 15-player squads, Namibia have named 16 players, citing the need for a bigger player base for the four warm-up fixtures in the West Indies before the start of the tournament. They have until May 25 to drop one player from the 16.
Namibia are in Group B with Australia, England, Scotland and Oman at the T20 World Cup, and have recent experience against the last of those. They played Oman in five T20Is in Al-Almerat in April and won the series 3-2, after being 2-1 down.
SQUAD
Namibia squad for 2024 T20 World Cup (ages bracketed):
Gerhard Erasmus (29, captain), Zane Green (27, wicketkeeper), Michael van Lingen (26), Dylan Leicher (20), Ruben Trumpelmann (26), Jack Brassell (19), Ben Shikongo (24), Tangeni Lungameni (32), Niko Davin (26), JJ Smit (28), Jan Frylinck (30), JP Kotzé (30), David Wiese (38), Bernard Scholtz (33), Malan Kruger (29), PD Blignaut (18).
The player squad is accompanied by Pierre de Bruyn (head coach), Justin Kemp (assistant/bowling coach), Albe Morkel (batting consultant), Timothy Yates (performance analyst), Rudie van Vuuren (team doctor), Oscar Nauhaus (strength and conditioning coach), Kara Scheepers (physio), Polly Negongo (team manager), Hestelle Spies (media/logistics).
PROGRAM
Namibia and Oman were due to tour to Scotland during May for an ICC World Cup League Two triangular series of one-day matches, which has been postponed to July. A delay in pitch preparation has been indicated among the reasons for the postponement.
Instead, the Namibian squad will depart to the West Indies this week where they will have six warm-up matches lined up, Erasmus told Sport Wrap on Friday. Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Uganda are among the scheduled opponents.
Namibia are drawn in Group B of the T20 World Cup and will play Oman in their tournament opener in Barbados on June 2 and further fixtures against Scotland, Australia and England. Only the top two will advance to the Super 8 phase.