Namibia and Zimbabwe Secure Spots at 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Namibia and Zimbabwe have officially qualified for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after successful semi-final matches in the African qualifiers held in Harare on October 2, 2025.

Namibia defeated Tanzania by 63 runs, while Zimbabwe claimed a seven-wicket victory over Kenya. Both teams will now face each other in the final of the African qualifiers on October 7.

In the first semi-final, Namibia struggled early, slipping to 41-4. However, a strong partnership between captain Gerhard Erasmus, who scored 55 runs off 41 balls, and all-rounder JJ Smit, who scored 61 not out off 43 balls, helped Namibia post a total of 174-6. Namibia bowler Smit also excelled with the ball, taking 3 wickets for just 16 runs, limiting Tanzania to 111-8.

Zimbabwe faced Kenya in the other semi-final, where Kenya won the toss and chose to bat first, ending their innings at 122-6. Rakep Patel was notable for Kenya, scoring 65 runs from 47 balls. Zimbabwe’s Bennett made a significant impact, scoring 51 off just 25 balls, leading his team to victory with five overs to spare.

With these victories, Namibia and Zimbabwe have secured their participation in the T20 World Cup scheduled for February 7 to March 8, 2026, in India and Sri Lanka. This will mark Namibia’s fourth consecutive appearance and Zimbabwe’s return after missing out in 2024.

The tournament will feature a total of 20 teams, with 17 spots already filled and three remaining spots to be determined by upcoming Asia-Pacific qualifiers.