SHARJAH: Namibia head coach Pierre de Bruyn has revealed that his World Cup history-making team has been assembled with just 18 players to choose from in the country.

Namibia, ranked a lowly 19, reached the T20 World Cup second round for the first time with an eight-wicket win over Ireland here on Friday.

They now are in the Super 12 stage where they face former winners India and Pakistan as well as New Zealand, Afghanistan and Scotland.

“We are not an organisation with the luxury of a lot of resources around us,” said De Bruyn. “I’ve got 18 players to pick from in my national squad and I know what they’ve put in for the last three years.

“It sounds like a cliché that the hard work has paid off, but it certainly did and I’m really ecstatic for the players.”

On Friday, Namibia chased down their modest target of 126 with skipper Gerhard Erasmus making an unbeaten 53.

“We are a small country, a small number of people play cricket. We should be proud of ourselves,” said Erasmus, who will next lead his charges against Scotland in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Namibia finished behind Sri Lanka in Group ‘A’ after the 2014 champions dismissed the Netherlands for just 44, the second lowest total in tournament history, for an eight-wicket win.

Sri Lanka are grouped with England, Australia, South Africa, defending champions West Indies and Bangladesh in the Super 12.

“We are ecstatic, I’ve got to remind myself what just happened out there, but it has happened to a really good group of people,” added De Bruyn. “It’s time for us to reflect and also enjoy this moment, but we certainly didn’t come here to go and lie down now.

“Facing India, Pakistan and New Zealand, those types of teams, is going to be a great experience for these players but we want to be competitive in whatever we do, with ball, bat and in the field.”

As well as securing the last place in the Super 12 stage, Namibia are also guaranteed a spot in the 2022 tournament in Australia.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2021