Overview
Karl Birkenstock (born 27 March 1996) is a Namibian cricketer. He made his first-class debut for Namibia against Western Province in the 2016–17 Sunfoil 3-Day Cup on 6 October 2016, and his List A debut followed in the 2016–17 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge on 15 January 2017.
In March 2019, Birkenstock was named in Namibia's squad for the 2019 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament. Namibia finished in the top four places of the tournament, thereby gaining One Day International (ODI) status. Birkenstock made his ODI debut on 27 April 2019, against Oman, in the tournament's final.
In May 2019, he was named in Namibia's squad for the Regional Finals of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier tournament in Uganda. He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Namibia against Ghana on 20 May 2019. The following month, he was one of twenty-five cricketers named in Cricket Namibia's Elite Men's Squad ahead of the 2019–20 international season. In September 2019, he was named in Namibia's squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates. In September 2021, Birkenstock was included in Namibia's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Birkenstock comes from a cricketing family. His father, Rudi Birkenstock, is a cricket umpire who has officiated in women's international matches and has also played cricket for Namibia's over-50s team. His cousin, Uwe Birkenstock, has played first-class cricket in South Africa.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Karl Birkenstock.