Adani Sportline-owned franchise Gulf Giants have roped in South African-born Namibian cricketer David Wiese for the inaugural edition of International League T20 (ILT20).

David Wiese has been a proven match-winner in T20 cricket, and he is likely to play a vital role for the Gulf Giants in their ambition to clinch the coveted IT20 title.

The 37-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder has already scored 3,666 runs in 314 T20s at an imposing strike rate of 144.27. He has nine half-centuries to his name.

Apart from scoring crucial runs in the middle-order, Wiese has bagged 251 T20 wickets at an average of 26.05 and an economy of 8.34. The right-arm medium pacer has registered six five-wicket hauls in his T20 career so far.

Born in Roodepoort, Transvaal Province, Wiese played international cricket for South Africa from 2013 to 2016. Five years later, he made his international debut for Namibia in October 2021.

Since making his T20 international debut against Sri Lanka in 2013, Wiese has scored 453 runs and picked 41 wickets in 39 matches so far. He has also featured in 15 One-Day Internationals.

Besides representing South Africa and Namibia at international level, Wiese has played for several T20 franchises across the globe.

The swashbuckling all-rounder has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. He has also experience of playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Mzansi Super League, Lanka Premier League (LPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and England’s domestic T20 competition.

Bringing in loads of T20 experience, the Gulf Giants will bank on Wiese to win them matches in the first edition of ILT20, starting on January 13, 2023.

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Dubai Capitals, Gulf Giants, Desert Vipers, MI Emirates and Sharjah Warriors are the six teams that will feature in the inaugural edition of ILT20. A total of 34 matches will be played at the world-class venues in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).