David Wiese keeps up winning ways after swapping Lahore Qalandars 'family' for Namibia

There may have been a few less eyeballs watching, both in person and online. The stakes might have been lower.

But David Wiese said he felt like he had just swapped one family for another after turning out for Namibia in Dubai, a little over a week after winning the Pakistan Super League with Lahore Qalandars.

The all-rounder was returning to play for his father’s home country, on the same field at the ICC Academy in Dubai where he had debuted for them back in October.

The former South Africa international has joined up with the Namibians for their Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series, involving UAE and Oman.

It is his first cricket since helping Qalandars to a maiden PSL title in front of the packed stands of the Gaddafi Stadium in their home city of Lahore.

“It is an amazing achievement,” Wiese said of winning the title against Multan Sultans at the end of last month.

“Traditionally, the Qalandars hadn’t been the best side in the PSL, but we have kept the core of the team together over the past couple of years.

“We knew at one stage it was always going to bear fruit. It just felt like the stars aligned and everything clicked towards the end of the tournament.

“You can’t underestimate how much impact playing in front of a home crowd made. That was amazing, being able to play at home in front of 30,000 supporters again.

“It was an unbelievable experience. I can’t explain how much energy they give you when you play there.”

Initially, Wiese was brought back to reality with a bump, after swapping the green of the Qalandars for the dapper dark blue of Namibia.

He was bowled first ball by a rampant Bilal Khan, the Oman left-arm quick bowler, as Namibia crumbled to 53-7.

Remarkably, though, the African side bounced back from