Zimbabwe and Namibia Celebrate T20 World Cup Qualification
New Delhi: Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza and Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus expressed delight as their teams secured spots in next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for February-March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
Both sides earned qualification by reaching the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Harare, remaining unbeaten in their respective groups. The Africa Qualifier final is set for Saturday, October 4, at Harare Sports Club, where the two teams will face each other.
Zimbabwe clinched their place with a seven-wicket victory over Kenya in the second semi-final, while Namibia defeated Tanzania by 63 runs in the first semi-final, marking their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup appearance.
Zimbabwe topped Group B with wins over Tanzania, Uganda, and Botswana. Reflecting on the achievement, Raza described qualifying as “life-changing.”
“Certainly feels relieving. Personally, I haven’t had much sleep or food because these qualifiers have been weighing on my mind,” Raza said after the win over Kenya, as quoted by the ICC. “World Cups change lives—they bring honor and respect to nations. For Zimbabwe to qualify for next year’s World Cup, after all the heartbreaks over the years, is incredibly special. All we aim for is to earn respect in Zimbabwe, and performing in World Cups is the way to do that.”
Zimbabwe’s qualification ends a four-year wait, with their last appearance in the 2022 edition in Australia. The team has now participated in six T20 World Cups.
“This year, we’ve qualified again. Hopefully, we can put our best foot forward next year, bringing more respect and happiness to our nation, which we truly deserve,” Raza added.
For Namibia, 2026 will be their fourth T20 World Cup appearance, following their participation in 2021, 2022, and 2024. Erasmus hailed the qualification as another proud milestone for his team.
“Obviously, it’s a great feeling. Our previous World Cups created unforgettable memories. Playing against the world’s best, four World Cups in a row, shows consistency and is a real feather in our caps,” Erasmus said after the win over Tanzania. “The World Cup is a big moment for associate nations—it’s where you showcase yourself on the world stage.”
While Namibia did not progress beyond the group stage in the last two editions, they reached the Super 12s in 2021 with wins over the Netherlands and Ireland. Erasmus emphasized that facing top cricketing nations motivates the team to improve.
“We want to compete with the best because it makes us better. Many associate teams have proven they can beat top nations, but first you must go through these tournaments to earn your place on the big stage. It’s inspirational for young players and fans back home to see us play at this level,” the right-handed batter added.
He continued, “Youngsters look up to us—not just for our achievements, but for seeing us play the best teams in the world. Facing India, Australia, England—those are the matches that inspire the next generation to aim higher.”
With Zimbabwe and Namibia securing Africa’s T20 World Cup slots, only three spots remain from the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier for the 2026 tournament.
