The ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier gets underway in Harare this weekend with the FNB Namibian Eagles amongst the favourites to book a ticket to next year’s T20 World Cup.
Eight African nations will battle it out for two spots at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, with the Eagles having been drawn in Group A along with Malawi, Nigeria and Kenya, while Group B consists of Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana.
Each team will play three group matches with the top two teams in each group progressing to the semifinals. The two semifinal winners will qualify for the final, but more importantly, they will also qualify for next year’s T20 World Cup which takes place in India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year.
Namibia start their campaign with a group match against Kenya this morning and after some impressive performances in warm-up matches over the past fortnight, they enter the tournament as one of the favourites, along with the hosts Zimbabwe.
Last week they lost 2-1 to Zimbabwe in a T20 series in Bulawayo, but completed the series in style with a 28-run victory on 18 September.
In that match Jan Frylinck joined an exclusive club with a brilliant batting display when he scored 77 runs off just 31 balls. His half century came up off only 13 balls, which was the joint third-fastest 50 in international T20 history.
Dipendra Singh Airee of Nepal holds the record, with a nine-ball 50, while Yuvraj Singh iof India is second with a 12-ball 50.
Frylinck has now entered the record books in joint third place along with Mirza Ahsan of Austria, Muhammad Fahad of Turkety and Tadiwanashe Marumani of Zimbabwe, with a 13-ball 50.
This week Namibia added two more convincing victories in warmup matches in Harare, after beating Uganda by 93 runs Monday, and Botswana by 10 wickets on Wednesday.
Against Uganda, Namibia scored an imposing 205 for six wickets off their 20 overs, with JJ Smit scoring 58 not out, and Malan Kruger and Nicol Loftie-Eaton 36 runs each.
Uganda were then restricted to 112/8 with Alexander Volschenk taking two wickets for 18 runs.
Two days later Namibia skilled Botswana out for only 85 runs, with Jack Brassell taking two wickets for 10 runs and Ben Shikongo 2/11, and then reached the winning target without loss, with Frylinck scoring 51 not out and Kruger 28 not out.
Namibia coach Craig Williams yesterday said they are well prepared and looking forward to the tournament.
“Obviously winning the third T20I against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo gave us some nice momentum going into this week’s warm-up games. We had a very good game against Uganda where we scored over 200 and restricted thjem to 112, so that was an emphatic victory and I think it set the tone for us going into the tournament. Against Botswana, we bowled them out for 85 and then reached the target in just seven overs, so yes, the boys are in a good space,” he said.
“We’ve trained really hard, we’ve prepared well, and we are sitting in a good place currently heading into our first game against Kenya. We’ve given the boys off today, we just felt they needed a bit of time to recharge, and then tonight we’ll sit and review our plans again. I really feel that we’ve ticked all our boxes, and it’s just a matter of the boys now going to showcase their skills and to take it one game at a time,” he said.
Welcoming the teams earlier this week in Harare, ICC Africa’s Acting Regional Development Manager Justine Ligyalingi said the event was more than just a qualifier.
“This tournament represents the final step on the pathway to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and it promises to deliver high-quality cricket, passion and competitive spirit,” Ligyalingi said.“This event is more than just a competition – it is a celebration of cricket’s growth in Africa and a unique opportunity to showcase the warmth, culture and beauty of Zimbabwe.
“We trust in Zimbabwe’s proven hosting ability and are confident this event will be a true celebration of cricket, unity and opportunity for our continent.”
In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.
The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
