Namibia and Zimbabwe qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 after African Regional Final wins

Namibia and Zimbabwe clinched Africa's two coveted spots for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Namibia overcame Tanzania, propelled by JJ Smit's all-round brilliance and Gerhard Erasmus's anchoring innings. Zimbabwe secured their return to the global stage by comfortably defeating Kenya, led by Brian Bennett's explosive fifty.

JJ Smit's stellar show confirms Namibia's qualification for T20 World Cup 2026. (ANI Photo)

The African leg of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 qualifiers ended in high drama on Thursday as Namibia and Zimbabwe clinched the two coveted spots for the tournament, confirming their tickets to next year’s marquee event in India and Sri Lanka.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! In the first semi-final in Harare, Namibia overcame a shaky start to secure a commanding win over Tanzania. Reduced to 41/4 inside five overs, the Eagles looked in trouble before JJ Smit and captain Gerhard Erasmus produced a blistering counterattack. The duo stitched together an 88-run stand in just 7.4 overs, with Erasmus anchoring the innings with a composed 55 off 41 balls. At the other end, the crowd echoed with chants of “Smit can hit” as JJ Smit smashed four towering sixes on his way to an unbeaten 61 from 43 balls. His all-round brilliance didn’t end there — with the ball in hand, Smit dismantled Tanzania’s top order, finishing with remarkable figures of 3/16. His spell effectively shut the door on any hopes of a Tanzanian fightback, sealing Namibia’s fourth consecutive T20 World Cup appearance.

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Zimbabwe ensured the second African ticket with a seven-wicket victory over Kenya in the day’s later fixture. Kenya’s Rakep Patel stood tall with a valiant 65 from 47 deliveries, but the lack of support around him left the team short, posting just 122. The Chevrons chased the target with ease, thanks to an explosive start from opener Brian Bennett. The right-hander hammered 51 off just 25 balls, tearing apart the Kenyan attack, including six boundaries in a single over off Lucas Ndandason. Zimbabwe reached the target comfortably, marking their return to the global stage after missing out on the 2024 edition. With Africa’s two slots decided, only three places from the Asia-EAP Qualifier now remain up for grabs for the expanded 20-team T20 World Cup in 2026.

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