Namibia become 16th team to book place in T20 World Cup 2026
Namibia qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after beating Tanzania by 63 runs in the Africa Qualifier semifinal. They join India, Sri Lanka, and 14 other teams for the tournament.
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Namibia became the 16th team to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after securing a commanding 63-run win over Tanzania in the Africa Regional Qualifier semifinal in Harare on Thursday. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Namibia vs Tanzania – Match Summary
| Team | Scorecard | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Namibia | 174/6 in 20 overs | JJ Smit 61* (43), Erasmus 55 (41) |
| Tanzania | 111/8 in 20 overs | Patwa 31 (31); Smit 3/16, Shikongo 3/21 |
| Result | Namibia won by 63 runs, qualified for T20 WC 2026 |
After being asked to bat first, Namibia recovered from early setbacks in the powerplay to post 174/6. Captain Gerhard Erasmus anchored the innings with a fluent 55 off 41 balls, while JJ Smit produced a crucial all-round performance, smashing an unbeaten 61 from 43 deliveries before starring with the ball.
In reply, Tanzania faltered against Namibia’s disciplined bowling attack. JJ Smit struck early with two wickets in one over, finishing with 3/16, while Ben Shikongo added 3/21. Despite Abhik Patwa’s 31, Tanzania never threatened to chase down the target, ending on 111/8.
Namibia’s World Cup History
This will be Namibia’s fourth T20 World Cup appearance after featuring in 2021, 2022, and 2024. The highlight of their journey so far came in 2022 when they stunned Sri Lanka in a memorable group-stage upset.
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Teams Qualified for T20 World Cup 2026
| Qualification Route | Teams |
|---|---|
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
| Super Eight (2024 WC) | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, USA |
| ICC Rankings | Pakistan, New Zealand, Ireland |
| Regional Finals | Canada (Americas), Netherlands (Europe), Italy (Europe), Namibia (Africa) |
A total of 16 teams are confirmed for the 20-team tournament. The last three spots will be decided through the Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers in Oman from October 8, where teams like Nepal, UAE, Oman, and Papua New Guinea will compete.
What Next?
The second semifinal of the Africa Regional Qualifier between Zimbabwe and Kenya will decide the continent’s other qualifier. South Africa are already through, having secured direct entry via their Super Eight finish in the 2024 World Cup.
Namibia’s victory ensures they remain a consistent presence on the global stage, with the squad now preparing to test their skills against cricket’s biggest names in India and Sri Lanka next year.
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