Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo , Zimpapers Sports Hub
AFTER pushing Sri Lanka all the way in a thrilling T20I series in Harare, the Chevrons now turn their focus to Namibia in what will be their final tune up before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier later this month.
Zimbabwe lost the three match contest against Sri Lanka 2-1, but the competitive displays have given head coach Justin Sammons hope as his side prepares to face the Richelieu Eagles in Bulawayo.
The two teams meet in three T20Is at Queens Sports Club on September 15, 16 and 18. For both sides, the series is part of the build-up to the regional qualifier that runs from September 26 to October 4 in Harare. Eight nations will compete for the two spots available at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Sammons said the Bulawayo series is a chance to fine tune plans and test combinations before the all important qualifiers.
“It’s important that we build on the positives from the Sri Lanka series, and facing Namibia will give us exactly the kind of contest we need before the qualifier.
They are a quality team who have consistently performed well in this format, so these matches will demand our very best. For us, it’s about refining our plans, getting combinations right and making sure we go into the qualifier confident and battle hardened,” said Sammons.
The Chevrons will stick with the same squad that ran Sri Lanka close. They know Namibia will be no pushovers. The Eagles have dominated recent meetings, winning seven of the 11 T20Is between the two nations.
Their rivalry has grown in recent years. Namibia edged a five match series in Bulawayo 3-2 in 2022, repeated the feat in Windhoek in 2023, and beat Zimbabwe by seven wickets in last year’s Africa Regional Qualifier.
Alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia, six other nations, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda, will contest the qualifier.
Fans in Bulawayo will be treated to top-level cricket for free, with gates open to all at Queens Sports Club. It will be the first time since December that the city hosts international cricket.
