Namibia to Host South Africa and Zimbabwe in Tri-Series Ahead of Proposed Africa T20 Cup

Namibia will host South Africa and Zimbabwe in a seven-match T20I tri-series later this month, marking another significant step in the growing cricket partnership between the three nations set to co-host the 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup.

Following the tri-series, South Africa will remain in Namibia for a three-match ODI series—the first-ever men's ODI contest between the two countries.

Windhoek to Stage All 10 Matches

All ten fixtures will be played at the Namibia Cricket Ground (NCG) in Windhoek, the state-of-the-art two-ground venue that opened last year and is expected to play a key role during the 2027 World Cup.

The venue has already hosted several major international events, including the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 matches, and multiple men's and women's T20 Internationals.

Africa T20 Cup Plans Gather Momentum

The tri-series is also viewed as a precursor to the proposed Africa T20 Cup, a continental tournament currently under discussion for introduction from 2027 onwards.

The proposed competition, modelled along the lines of the Asia Cup, remains dependent on the finalisation of the next Future Tours Programme (FTP).

Revenue generated from ticket sales and broadcast rights during the upcoming tri-series will be directed to the Africa Cricket Association to support the development of cricket across the continent.

South Africa Likely to Rotate Squad

South Africa are expected to field a squad without several first-choice players as they manage workloads ahead of an extremely busy international schedule.

The Proteas are set for a packed home summer featuring:

• Three Tests against Australia.
• Two Tests against Bangladesh.
• Three Tests against England.
• Nine ODIs and three T20Is between September and January.
• The SA20 competition.
• A tour of Sri Lanka to conclude their 2025-27 FTP commitments.

Despite the demanding calendar, Cricket South Africa remains committed to supporting cricket's growth across Africa."We are excited to be part of this white-ball tour, which not only further demonstrates our commitment to strengthening the game in our neighbouring countries, but also builds excitement ahead of next year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by all three nations," CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said.

Namibia Continue World Cup Preparations

The Namibia Cricket Ground has quickly established itself as one of Africa's leading cricket venues.

South Africa featured in the stadium's inaugural international fixture in October last year, when a capacity crowd witnessed Namibia record a historic victory over their neighbours.

Since then, the venue has successfully staged numerous international competitions, reinforcing Namibia's readiness to co-host the 2027 World Cup.

Cricket Namibia CEO Johann Muller welcomed the continued collaboration between the three boards."We are immensely grateful to Cricket South Africa and Zimbabwe Cricket for their commitment to this series, which reflects the strong partnership and shared vision to grow cricket across the African continent," Muller said."We encourage cricket fans from across Namibia to come out in their numbers and enjoy world-class international cricket featuring three of Africa's leading cricketing nations. This promises to be a memorable celebration of the game and a fantastic opportunity to support the Eagles on home soil."

The upcoming white-ball series is expected to strengthen regional cooperation while providing valuable international exposure for all three teams ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

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