Namibia and Zimbabwe Secure T20 World Cup 2026 Finals Berths
Namibia and Zimbabwe have secured their spots in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup following successful performances in the African qualifying tournament held in Harare. This victory marks a significant achievement for both teams as they advance to the prestigious international event.
Namibia’s Journey to the Finals
Namibia triumphed over Tanzania in the semi-finals, winning by 63 runs. This victory ensures their place in a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup. Despite a rocky start, with Namibia losing four wickets for just 41 runs, a strong partnership between captain Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit turned the match around.
- Namibia’s Semi-Final Performance:
- Final Score: Namibia 174-6, Tanzania 111-8
- Erasmus scored 55 runs off 41 balls.
- Smit contributed 61 not out off 43 balls.
- Smit also claimed 3 wickets for 16 runs.
- Ben Shikongo recorded 3 wickets for 21 runs.
Zimbabwe Secures Qualification
Zimbabwe hosted the tournament and achieved a convincing victory over Kenya by seven wickets. This marks Zimbabwe’s return to the T20 World Cup, having last qualified in 2022. Kenya won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a total of 122 runs for six wickets, primarily thanks to Rakep Patel’s solid performance.
- Zimbabwe’s Semi-Final Performance:
- Final Score: Kenya 122-6, Zimbabwe chased down with ease.
- Rakep Patel scored 65 runs off 47 balls.
- Brian Bennett was the top scorer for Zimbabwe with 51 runs off 25 balls.
Upcoming Matches and Future Prospects
Namibia and Zimbabwe are set to face each other in the final of the qualifying tournament on Saturday. Regardless of the outcome, both teams will participate in the 2026 T20 World Cup scheduled from February 7 to March 8 next year in India and Sri Lanka.
Previous T20 World Cup Performances
Namibia made an impressive debut in the T20 World Cup 2021, where they defeated the Netherlands, Ireland, and Scotland. However, they exited in the Super 12s. In contrast, Namibia did not progress past the group stage in the 2022 and 2024 editions.
With their successful qualification, Namibia and Zimbabwe will look to improve upon their past performances in the upcoming World Cup.
