Namibia and Zimbabwe confirmed their spots in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after winning their semifinal matches in the African qualifier on Thursday. Namibia defeated Tanzania, while Zimbabwe overcame Kenya to secure their places in the global event. The T20 World Cup 2026 will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year. This will be Namibia’s fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament, while Zimbabwe will return to the World Cup stage after four years, having missed out in the last edition due to their loss against Uganda. India will enter the tournament as the defending champions, having beaten South Africa in the 2024 final. Over the years, West Indies and England have each won two titles, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Australia have one each. New Zealand and South Africa remain among the top cricketing nations yet to win the trophy. Namibia ease past Tanzania in the qualifiers round In the first semifinal, Namibia showcased a strong all-round performance to beat Tanzania by 63 runs. Batting first, Namibia posted a challenging 174/6 in 20 overs. Captain Gerhard Erasmus scored 55 runs, while Ruben Trumpelmann smashed 61 to power the innings. Also read: Mohammed Siraj’s Ronaldo celebration against Windies in Ahmedabad: Dhruv Jurel’s leg-side diving catch, Bumrah’s fiery yorkers; top moments, records Chasing 175, Tanzania struggled against Namibia’s disciplined bowling attack and were restricted to 111/8. Abhik Patwa top-scored with 31, but the rest of the batters couldn’t offer much resistance. For Namibia, JJ Smit and Ben Shikongo both claimed three wickets each to seal a comfortable victory. Zimbabwe returns in style, creates history after four years The second semifinal saw Zimbabwe cruise past Kenya. Kenya managed 122/6 in their innings, thanks largely to Rakep Patel’s fighting 65 off 47 balls. However, Zimbabwe’s bowlers, led by Blessing Muzarabani with two wickets, kept the opposition under control. In reply, Zimbabwe chased down the target of 123 in just 15 overs with seven wickets in hand. Brian Bennett smashed 51 runs, while Tadiwanashe Marumani added 39 to ensure a smooth win. With this result, Zimbabwe not only entered the qualifier final but also secured a long-awaited return to the T20 World Cup. Also read: Bangladesh Women beat Pakistan Women by 7 wickets: Rubya Haider, Shorna Akhter shine for Bangladesh in Women’s ODI World Cup; Marufa awarded POTM India, Sri Lanka to host ICC T20I World Cup 2026 The 2026 T20 World Cup will feature 20 teams. Hosts India and Sri Lanka, along with top performers from the previous edition like Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, and West Indies, have already qualified. Ireland, New Zealand, and Pakistan secured their spots through rankings. Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands qualified through regional events, while Namibia and Zimbabwe now join the lineup from Africa. Three more teams from Asia and East Asia Pacific will be confirmed by October 17. The qualifier final between Namibia and Zimbabwe will be played on October 4 in Harare to decide the placement of the teams in the World Cup groups. Post navigation Bangladesh Women beat Pakistan Women by 7 wickets:Rubya Haider, Shorna Akhter shine for Bangladesh in Women’s ODI World Cup; Marufa awarded POTM Deepak Chahar likely to be seen in Bigg Boss:Makers hint at new wild card entry in the show; Will it change the game?
