Namibia created new history on Saturday (October 11), when Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek hosted the historic first-ever Namibia vs South Africa T20I, and the hosts Namibia stunned everyone by beating the Proteas on a final-ball thriller. 

Namibia beat South Africa by four wickets

After South Africa chose to bat first in the only T20I, they scored 134/8 in 20 overs. In reply, Namibia chased down the target with a four on the final ball of the match, where the hosts needed only one run to win, and won by four wickets, having lost six wickets in their successful 20-over chase. 

It was Namibia's first international cricket meeting against South Africa, which was a successful outing for them, as they created a new history in their international cricket record book. South Africa became the fourth ICC Full member to suffer a T20I or international cricket defeat against Namibia. 

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ICC Full members who suffered a T20I defeat against Namibia (Updated as of 11 October 2025)

• vs Zimbabwe: 8 wins and 7 losses
• vs Ireland: 1 win and 1 loss
• vs Sri Lanka: 1 win and 1 loss
• vs South Africa: 1 win

Ireland were the first ICC Full member to suffer a T20I or international cricket defeat when Namibia beat them in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021.

Zimbabwe suffered their first T20I defeat against Namibia in May 2022, where the away side Namibia won the five-match T20I series by 3-2. Later, they won four times against the Chevrons in 2023 and once last September.

During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 first round, Namibia beat Sri Lanka. 

For the first time, South Africa and Namibia met each other in international cricket on 11 October 2025, where the hosts Namibia beat South Africa on the final ball thriller. 

Namibia stunned world cricket as they defeated South Africa by four wickets in a last-ball thriller, where Quinton de Kock made a comeback in international cricket but failed to set a good memory. 

It was the first international cricket match at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, where Donovan Ferreira-led South Africa chose to bat first after winning the toss in the only T20I in the tour on Saturday (October 11). In the sold-out stadium, after South Africa were restricted to 134/8 in 20 overs, Namibia chased down the target on the final ball of the match after losing six wickets.

Quinton de Kock scored only one run

South Africa's innings struggled from the powerplay, where they managed to score 33/2. Quinton de Kock played as a wicketkeeper and opening batter, but was dismissed on the final ball of the first over after scoring only one run in four balls. Jason Smith scored the highest runs in that innings with 31, while the opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius (22) and Rubin Hermann (23) were the other batters to score 20+ runs in that innings. At the late, Gerald Coetzee had a crucial cameo of 12 from just six balls with two fours, while Bjorn Fortuin scored 19 not off 21 balls.

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Namibia beat South Africa: Ruben Trumpelmann was Namibia's hero with the ball and bat

Among the hosts' bowlers, Ruben Trumpelmann took three wickets with the bowling figures of 4-0-28-3, while the international cricket debutant Max Heingo got two wickets with the bowling figures of 3-0-32-3.

In reply, Namibia scored 46/2 at the end of six overs, as they got a positive start. While the opener Louren Steenkamp scored 13 runs, skipper Gerhard Erasmus scored 21 runs. Although Namibia were losing wickets at regular intervals, they were also maintaining a healthy run-rate to handle the pressure. JJ Smit scored 13 runs, while Malan Kruger scored 18 runs. Later, Zane Green scored 30 not out off 23 balls with two fours and one six, while Ruben Trumpelmann scored 11 not out off eight balls with one four. For his effective all-round performances, Ruben Trumpelmann won the Player of the Match award.

In the final over of the match, Namibia required 11 runs, and Andile Simelane delivered that over, who then had the bowling figures of 3-0-14-2. Green welcomed the right-arm fast bowler with a sixer on the first delivery, and Namibia later required one run to win in the last two balls. While the fifth ball of the over had a dot, Green successfully finished the game for Namibia with a four on the final ball of the match.

While South Africa second time suffered a T20I defeat against an ICC Associate member, after the Netherlands beat them in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, they became the fourth victim among ICC Full members who have suffered a T20I loss against Namibia, after Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka. 

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.

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.

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.

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Full List of Teams Qualified for T20 World Cup 2026

 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.

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.

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

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

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.

September 18, 2025, will be remembered for Namibia's Jan Frylinck setting Queens Sports Club on fire with a spectacular innings that sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. The left-handed opener launched a 13-ball half-century in the third T20I against Zimbabwe, placing him in elite company amongst the fastest fifties recorded in T20I cricket.

The Knock That Changed the Game

With Namibia 0-2 down in the five-match series, Frylinck walked to the crease looking to provide his side with some impetus. From the first ball he faced, he was in attack mode as he began cutting loose against Zimbabwe’s attack. By the end of the fourth over, he had raised his fifty off 13 balls, consigned to the third fastest fifty in T20I history.

Frylinck's last tally was incredible: 77 runs from 31 balls - 8 fours and 6 sixes- at 248.39. The highlight was when he smashed Trevor Gwandu down the ground in one over, with two sixes and two fours in four balls to get himself to the milestone. He contributed with Louren Steenkamp to 74 runs in just less than 5 overs to get Namibia to 204/7.

The middle order did collapse at the end, but Ruben Trumpelmann's late 46 runs from 24 balls hit Zimbabwe beyond repair. The home team tried but could not recover and Namibia walked away with a much needed consolation victory.

Fastest T20I Fifties (All Opponents)

Fastest vs Full-Member Teams

More Than Just Runs

Frylinck, who was born in South Africa, has developed into one of Namibia's main all-rounders, consistent with the ball, and explosive with the bat. While his fifty from just 13 balls was a spectacular display of scoring runs quickly, it was just as much about showing that associate teams can compete with the established cricketing nations.

For supporters, this causal mind-blowing was a reminder of the life-changing disconnect that brings you back to why T20 cricket is so glorious—an anyone player, on any day can perform wonders that will last a lifetime. Despite it being another milestone for Frylinck, for Namibia it was a statement.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that 44 of the 54 matches at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will take place at eight venues in South Africa, while the other ten matches will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia, who are co-hosts of the event. The confirmation came during the announcement of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Thursday, which included the selection of a former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, to chair a committee as an independent chairperson in the preparations for the global event. This will be the first ICC men's event in South Africa since the 2009 Champions Trophy and is the first time that the 50-over World Cup is played on African soil since 2003.

Shortlisted Locations in South Africa

The eight venues chosen by CSA blend traditional cricketing venues with iconic locations that have hosted historic matches:

• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Gqeberha
• Bloemfontein
• East London
• Paarl

A Historic Return of the World Cup to Africa

The 2027 edition marks 24 years since the last Men's ODI World Cup held in South Africa. The CSA chairperson, Pearl Maphoshe, said it was an opportunity to showcase the country's and the continent's diverse reality. 
"CSA's vision is to deliver a global, inspiring event which is a reflection of the face of South Africa - diverse, inclusive and united."

CSA president Rihan Richards said the tournament will also offer a once-in-a-million experience to expand the fans to reach new fans and deepen cricket's footprint across Africa.

"This makes the 2027 CWC a once-in-a-lifetime event to create a unique quad for expanding our global footprint, as well as engaging existing fans through digital innovation, while connecting with the African continent and the rest of the world."

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Local Organising Committee (LOC)

The LOC for the World Cup will consist of independent and non-independent directors, ministry representatives, and CSA representatives.

Independent Chair

• Trevor Manuel

CSA Members Council and Board Appointments

• Johannes Adams - President of Western Province
• Yunus Bobat - President of KwaZulu-Natal
• Vuyani Jarana - CSA Board Member

Ministry Appointments

• Advocate Philip October
• Unathi Matthew Tshotwana

Independent Directors

• Herman Bosman
• Nomfanelo Magwentshu
• Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
• Ravi Naidoo
• Dr Stavros Nicolaou
• Advocate Karrisha Pillay SC

CSA Staff

• Pholetsi Moseki – CSA CEO
• Refentse Shinners – CSA Public Affairs Executive
• Tjaart van der Walt – CSA COO

Past ICC Events in South Africa

South Africa has a great past hosting ICC events:

• 2003 Men's ODI World Cup (co-hosted with Zimbabwe and Kenya)
• 2007 inaugural Men's T20 World Cup
• 2009 Champions Trophy
• 2005 Women's ODI World Cup
• 2023 Women's T20 World Cup (where the Proteas made it to a final for the first time.)

The 2027 World Cup will take place with 44 matches across South Africa and 10 matches across Zimbabwe and Namibia, which should provide a truly pan-African cricketing celebration that's as diverse as the continent and as colourful.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially unveiled the global winners of the 2024 ICC Development Awards, recognising outstanding contributions by its Associate Members. With cricket expanding far beyond its traditional powerhouses, the awards celebrate excellence in grassroots growth, gender inclusion, digital outreach, and social impact.

This year, eight Associate nations, Namibia, Bhutan, Indonesia, Nepal, Scotland, Tanzania, USA, and Vanuatu emerged as global winners across seven revamped categories, including the debut of the ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year.

Namibia: Development Initiative of the Year

Namibia once again demonstrated its development strength, winning Development Initiative of the Year for its Ashburton Kwata Mini-Cricket Programme. A flagship initiative now embedded into physical education classes across public schools, the programme has introduced cricket to tens of thousands of children across 14 regions. The initiative has become a model for sustainable grassroots growth in emerging nations.

Bhutan & Vanuatu: Female Cricket Initiative of the Year

This year saw two winners share the spotlight in the Female Cricket Initiative of the Year category. Bhutan Cricket Council Board was honoured for its Inter-School Girls’ Competition. Using modified formats and starting with tennis ball cricket, the competition has brought thousands of new girls into the sport, many of them first-time players.

Vanuatu Cricket Association received recognition for its unique “Picking Wickets” programme. Combining seasonal work in Australia with remote coaching, the initiative allowed players to stay connected to cricket while earning income abroad.

USA: Men’s Team Performance of the Year

One of the standout stories of the year came from USA Cricket, which claimed Men’s Team Performance of the Year after a historic run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Their Super Eight qualification and unforgettable victory over Pakistan caught the imagination of the global cricketing community and helped popularise the sport in a major non-traditional market.

ALSO SEE: Zimbabwe to host Africa Regional Final for 2026 T20 World Cup Qualification

Scotland: Women’s Team Performance of the Year

Scotland lifted the Women’s Team Performance of the Year award, having qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time. Led by inspirational captain Kathryn Bryce, who was named Player of the Tournament during the qualifiers, Scotland’s qualification has sparked growing interest in women’s cricket back home.

Nepal: Digital Fan Engagement of the Year

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) took home the Digital Fan Engagement of the Year award after an impressive rise in online presence. Their strategic use of Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter), plus the launch of the CAN Domestic account, resulted in:

• Over 117 million total reach
  
• More than 420,000 new followers
  
• 2.13 million hours of YouTube watch time
  
• 13.4 million minutes of Facebook video views
  

These numbers reflect Nepal’s growing cricket-mad fanbase and the effectiveness of their digital strategy.

Indonesia: Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative

Indonesia won the Cricket 4 Good Social Impact Initiative of the Year for its "Cricket for Confidence" programme, which empowered over 300 rural schoolgirls in remote provinces. Many participants had never experienced structured sports before. The initiative broke ground socially, geographically, and culturally, truly embodying the spirit of cricket for development.

Tanzania: ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year

A new category this year, the ICC X Rexona criiio Festival of the Year, was claimed by the Tanzania Cricket Association for their “From Kitchen to Crease” festival. Hosted in Dar es Salaam, the event united 120 women, including housewives and professionals, for a day of cricket, sisterhood, and empowerment. The programme has left a lasting impact on women’s participation in Tanzania.

Celebrating Growth and Passion

Commenting on the winners, ICC Chair Jay Shah said: “This is a celebration of global exceptionalism, with all winners worthy of the accolades they have received in their mission to grow the game. These awards spotlight the remarkable stories of growth taking place around the world.”

With powerful stories from all corners of the globe, the 2024 ICC Development Awards show that cricket’s heartbeat is stronger than ever, not just at the elite level, but in communities where the game is becoming a force for change.

On his visit to Namibia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated and wished the best for the country to co-host the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. Here, we have brought the details of the next ODI World Cup. 

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027: Hosts (Who will host the next ODI World Cup)

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is a quadrennial tournament that has been played in the One-Day International (ODI) format. The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 will be the 14th edition of this tournament, which the African countries South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host jointly in October-November 2027. South Africa and Zimbabwe are the ICC Full Members, who are active in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Cricket Namibia is an active ICC Associate Member.

It will be the first time that Namibia will host a senior ICC tournament. Meanwhile, South Africa and Zimbabwe previously jointly hosted the ODI World Cup in the 2003 edition along with the Associate nation Kenya, as all those nations experienced their first-ever ICC World Cup hosting. 

See Also: Historic Win for Italy: Beats Scotland to Lead Race for 2026 T20 World Cup

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027: Key Hosting Details

After the 10-team ODI World Cup competitions for the last two editions, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 is returning with 14 teams, last featured in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. As the ICC Full Members, South Africa and Zimbabwe have directly qualified for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. However, the Associate Namibia haven't earned this luxury as the co-hosts have earned any direct spot, and need to participate in the Qualifier to earn the qualification for the tournament. 

Namibia are participating in the 2024–2026 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, from where they have to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualifier. From the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualifier, the top four teams will earn the ultimate ticket for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.  

Cricket South Africa has selected eight venues for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket and Cricket Namibia are working to select multiple strong venues for the next ODI World Cup.  

Before the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup 2026. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished the best for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 co-hosts Namibia. Also, he has extended the country's hand to the growth of cricket in Namibia. 

PM Modi is visiting the Southern African country Namibia at the invitation of Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The Indian PM has been conferred with the highest civilian honour in Namibia, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis.

See Also: Historic Win for Italy: Beats Scotland to Lead Race for 2026 T20 World Cup

Wishing Namibia great success in co-hosting the 2027 Cricket World Cup: PM Narendra Modi

In this special visit, the Indian PM had a speech where he included the best wishes for their co-hosting the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be their first ever ICC tournament hosting in senior cricket. Namibia will host this tournament with the Test-playing nations South Africa and Zimbabwe, where 14 teams will participate in the tournament.  

Namibia: PM Narendra Modi says, "I conclude by wishing Namibia great success in co-hosting the 2027 Cricket World Cup. And if your Eagles need any cricket tips — you know whom to call!" pic.twitter.com/R6knyHKlZ1

— IANS (@ians_india) July 9, 2025

However, unlike the Test-playing members or ICC Full Members South Africa and Zimbabwe, who have earned the direct qualification for the 14-team tournament ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, the Associate Member Namibia will have to participate in the Qualifiers to qualify for the 14th edition of the ODI World Cup. Three Namibian venues are expected to host the next ODI World Cup, including FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. 

Namibia in international cricket

Namibia have played one Men's ODI World Cup in 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya co-hosted the tournament, and the last three Men's T20 World Cups (2021, 2022, and 2024). 

While Namibia men's U19 team is known as one of the best associates, the country will co-host the upcoming ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 with Zimbabwe.

Riyan Parag is all set to don the captain's armband in a 5-match One Day International series. After captaining Rajasthan Royals in multiple IPL 2025 matches, the batter will now lead his state in an ODI series against Namibia. 

The series will be marked as an important assignment for both sides, as each team will get the opportunity to get experience in international standards. As a state team in India, Assam's squad is powered by multiple match winners and upcoming talents. Along with the captain, Parag, players like Denish Das, Akash Sengupta, and Parvej Musaraf can do wonders in the series. 

Namibia will be the host nation. The five-match ODI series will start on June 21 and conclude on June 29. Assam and Namibia will play five one-day matches on June 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29. All-time five matches will be held in Windhoek at the FNB Cricket Ground. The series against Assam follows the recent Namibian series against other Indian domestic teams—Punjab and Karnataka. Gerhard Erasmus will be the captain of the Namibia cricket team. JJ Smit and Nicol Loftie-Eaton are marked as their star players. 

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Squads for the upcoming series:

Assam’s squad:

Riyan Parag (C), Denish Das, Pradyun Saikia, Rahul Hazarika, Rishav Das, Sibsankar Roy, Subham Mandal, Akash Sengupta, Amlanjyoti Das, Kunal Sarma, Mrinmoy Dutta, Parvej Musaraf, Swarupam Purkayastha, Abhishek Thakuri (WK), Anurag Talukdar (WK), Ruhinandan Pegu (WK), Sumit Ghadigaonkar (WK), Avinov Choudhury, Bhargav Dutta, Darshan Rajbongshi, Dipjyoti Saikia, Mukhtar Hussain, Rahul Singh, and Sidharth Sarmah.

Namibia's Squad:

Gerhard Erasmus (C), Jan Frylinck, Malan Kruger, Nikolaas Davin, Dylan Leicher, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, JJ Smit, JP Kotze (WK), Lohan Louwrens (WK), Zane Green (WK), Ben Shikongo, Bernard Scholtz, Handre Klazinge, Jack Brassell, Jan-Izak de Villiers, Ruben Trumpelmann, and Tangeni Lungameni.