Both Namibia and Zimbabwe secure their place for the 20 Team ICC Men’s T20 World cup 2026 which to be played in India and Sri Lanka.
Both Namibia and Zimbabwe secured qualification by reaching the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Harare, finishing as unbeaten leaders of their respective groups.
Namibia (Group A) booked their fourth consecutive appearance in the Men’s T20 World Cup after defeating Tanzania by a commanding 63 runs in the semi-final. Meanwhile, hosts Zimbabwe (Group B) cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Kenya, sealing their spot in the tournament for the first time since the 2022 edition in Australia.
The two sides will meet in the Qualifier final on Saturday at Harare Sports Club.
In the morning match, JJ Smit (61 not out) and captain Gerhard Erasmus (55) struck half-centuries to guide Namibia to 174 for six, recovering strongly after an early stumble at 44 for one in the fifth over. Their 88-run partnership for the sixth wicket stabilized the innings before Smit showcased his all-round skills with the ball, taking three wickets for just 16 runs. Ben Shikongo also impressed with figures of three for 21, restricting Tanzania to 111 for eight.
In the afternoon encounter, Kenya chose to bat first after winning the toss and set a target of 123 for Zimbabwe. Rakep Patel led the charge with a resilient 65 off 47 balls before being caught and bowled by Richard Ngarava at the start of the 17th over.
Blessing Muzarabani spearheaded Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, taking two wickets for 19 runs, including both openers – captain Dhiren Gondaria (1) and Pushkar Sharma (11). Sachin Gill (19) and Jasraj Kundi (13) added valuable runs to help Kenya post a respectable total.
Zimbabwe’s openers, Brian Bennett (51) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (39), set the tone for the chase with a solid 76-run stand before Bennett was dismissed by Vraj Patel in the seventh over. Captain Sikandar Raza contributed 10 runs before his dismissal, leaving Ryan Burl (16*) and Tony Munyonga (3*) to complete the job comfortably, as Zimbabwe sealed the win with five overs to spare.
Namibia’s Road to Qualification:
Namibia, the Group A leaders, booked their fourth consecutive appearance at the T20 World Cup with an emphatic 63-run victory over Tanzania in the semi-final. Batting first, Namibia recovered from an early setback to post 174 for six, thanks to half-centuries from JJ Smit (61 not out) and captain Gerhard Erasmus (55). The pair added an 88-run stand for the sixth wicket, setting up a strong total.
Smit later starred with the ball, claiming three wickets for just 16 runs, while Ben Shikongo chipped in with three for 21 to restrict Tanzania to 111 for eight — sealing Namibia’s place in the 2026 World Cup.
Zimbabwe’s Path to Qualification:
Hosts Zimbabwe, the Group B toppers, returned to the global stage with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Kenya in their semi-final clash — securing their first T20 World Cup appearance since 2022.
After Kenya chose to bat first, Rakep Patel top-scored with 65 from 47 balls, helping his side reach 122 for six. Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Blessing Muzarabani (2/19), kept the run rate under control and picked up key wickets early in the innings.
In reply, Zimbabwe’s openers Brian Bennett (51) and Tadiwanashe Marumani (39) gave the hosts a solid start with a 76-run partnership. Captain Sikandar Raza added 10 runs before Ryan Burl (16*) and Tony Munyonga (3*) guided the team home comfortably with five overs to spare.
Namibia Performance in T20 World Cups
Namibia has shown remarkable progress on the global stage since making their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup debut in 2021.
2026 (India & Sri Lanka): The team will make their fourth consecutive appearance, marking a consistent run in global events — a major achievement for the associate nation.
2021 (UAE/Oman): Namibia made history by advancing to the Super 12 stage in their debut appearance. They recorded memorable wins over the Netherlands and Ireland in the group stage before facing top-tier sides like India, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
2022 (Australia): Namibia started strongly, defeating Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament but failed to qualify for the Super 12s after losses to the Netherlands and the UAE.
2024 (West Indies & USA): Namibia participated again but didn’t progress beyond the group stage, despite showing competitive performances.
Zimbabwe Performance in T20 World Cups
2007 (South Africa): Zimbabwe made headlines by defeating Australia in the group stage but failed to progress to the Super 8 due to losses against Pakistan.
2010 & 2012: Zimbabwe participated but struggled to advance beyond the first round against higher-ranked teams.
2014 & 2016: The team showed flashes of promise but failed to qualify for the main stage, reflecting a challenging rebuilding phase.
2022 (Australia): Zimbabwe made a strong comeback, qualifying for the Super 12 for the first time. Their win against Pakistan was one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, showcasing their renewed strength under Sikandar Raza’s leadership.
2026 (India & Sri Lanka): After missing the 2024 edition, Zimbabwe’s qualification marks a major return to the global stage. With a balanced squad and strong home performances, they aim to make a deeper run this time.