Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub/Wires
ZIMBABWE coach Justin Sammons wants the Chevrons to win the FNB T20 Tri-Series in Windhoek as they continue building towards the 2028 T20 World Cup.
The Chevrons arrived in Namibia on Tuesday evening and open their campaign against South Africa tomorrow before facing the hosts on Saturday.
Sammons will watch both opponents in action today when Namibia and South Africa launch the tournament at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground.
The three sides will play each other twice, with the top two meeting in the final on September 6.
The seven-match tournament brings together the three co-hosts of next year’s Men’s ODI World Cup.
According to the organisers, it is a precursor to an Africa T20 Cup expected to be launched next year, with proceeds from the Windhoek tournament going to the Africa Cricket Association.
“Yeah, it would be nice to actually win it all,” said Sammons before the team’s departure.
“This is a T20 series, so as we move towards 2028 and the World Cup there, it’s another opportunity for the group to gain more experience, keep improving, and hopefully lift the trophy.
“Now, that would be amazing.”
Sammons expects a difficult assignment against a settled Namibia side and a South African squad containing some of the country’s most exciting young players.
“The Namibia squad is fairly consistent, and we know what to expect from them in terms of their skill sets.
“They are a very competitive team, especially in their home conditions.
“South Africa have some high-quality and very dangerous players, so it is going to be a good test for us.”
Namibia have named an experienced squad led by Gerhard Erasmus and featuring Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Ruben Trumpelmann and Bernard Scholtz.
Former South Africa all-rounder Justin Kemp, who was appointed Namibia’s director of cricket in June, will assist head coach Craig Williams.
Left-handed batter Michael van Lingen is also back after coming out of retirement during a Cricket World Cup League 2 series in the Netherlands last month. He has not played a T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup and could open alongside 21-year-old Junior Taanyanda, who made his international debut in June and finished as the leading run-scorer in a T20I tri-series involving Namibia, Hong Kong and Nigeria.
The hosts have also included 18-year-old seamers Max Heingo and Waldo Smith, while 21-year-old all-rounder Alexander Busing-Volschenk carries a T20I strike rate of 142.
South Africa have brought a largely experimental squad captained by Bjorn Fortuin, with Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka among the most recognisable names.
Their squad was weakened when middle-order batter Jason Smith suffered an adductor muscle strain before departure.
Smith, who featured at this year’s T20 World Cup, has played 11 T20Is and three ODIs.
South Africa have not named a replacement.
