Namibia and Zimbabwe qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 after africa semi-finals
Namibia and Zimbabwe have qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after semi-final wins at the Africa Regional Qualifier in Harare. Check match highlights, key performances, and full list of qualified teams for the upcoming tournament in India & Sri Lanka.
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Namibia and Zimbabwe have secured their places at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after reaching the final of the Africa Regional Qualifier in Harare on Thursday. Both teams booked tickets for the tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026.
Namibia Cruises to Fourth Consecutive T20WC
Namibia defeated Tanzania by 63 runs in a thrilling semi-final. The Eagles were struggling at 41/4 in the fifth over but recovered through a match-turning partnership of 88 runs in 7.4 overs between Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit.
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Gerhard Erasmus | 55 runs off 41 balls |
| JJ Smit | 61* runs off 43 balls; 3 wickets for 16 runs |
Erasmus’ calm innings and Smit’s aggressive counter-attack helped Namibia post 174/6. Their bowlers then restricted Tanzania to 111/8, securing a comfortable win. This victory marks Namibia’s fourth consecutive T20 World Cup qualification, following appearances in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
Zimbabwe Returns to the Big Stage
Hosts Zimbabwe, absent from the 2024 edition, bounced back emphatically by defeating Kenya by seven wickets. Kenya set a modest target of 123, largely thanks to Rakep Patel’s 65 (47). Zimbabwe chased it down in 15 overs, with opener Brian Bennett hitting a blistering 51 off 25 balls.
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Brian Bennett | 51 runs off 25 balls |
| Blessing Muzarabani | 2 wickets for 19 runs |
The Zimbabwean bowlers had earlier restricted Kenya to 122/6, paving the way for a smooth chase. With this win, Zimbabwe became the 17th team to qualify for T20 World Cup 2026.
Upcoming Africa Final
Namibia and Zimbabwe will face off in the Africa Regional Final on October 4, but both sides have already secured their World Cup spots.
Full List of Teams Qualified for T20 World Cup 2026
| Region | Teams |
|---|---|
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
| Super Eight Teams | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, USA |
| ICC Rankings | Pakistan, New Zealand, Ireland |
| Regional Qualifiers | Canada (Americas), Netherlands & Italy (Europe), Namibia & Zimbabwe (Africa) |
Only three spots remain, which will be decided via the Asia-EAP Qualifier next year.
Zimbabwe Set to Host Afghanistan
In other news, Zimbabwe will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test and three T20Is in October-November.
| Match | Dates |
|---|---|
| One-off Test | Oct 20–24 |
| 1st T20I | Oct 29 |
| 2nd T20I | Oct 31 |
| 3rd T20I | Nov 2 |
Zimbabwe’s managing director Givemore Makoni highlighted that matches against Afghanistan are “keenly contested and entertaining,” promising exciting cricket for fans.
Namibia and Zimbabwe are now back on the T20 World Cup stage, ready to challenge the world’s best next February in India and Sri Lanka.
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