Namibia T20 World Cup squad announced; World Cup-winning Indian coach officially joins

Cricket Namibia has officially announced its 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka on January 3, 2026. Star all-rounder Gerhard Erasmus will captain the Namibia national cricket team in its fourth consecutive appearance at the T20 World Cup.

Gary Kirsten joins Namibia as consultant in 2026 ICC T20 World Cup squad announcement

Gerhard Erasmus’ calm leadership and all-round skills have played a major role in Namibia’s steady growth in international cricket, and the team will once again look to him for inspiration in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7.

One of the most exciting aspects of this announcement is the arrival of South African legend Gary Kirsten as a consultant for the tournament. Kirsten, who guided India to their historic triumph in the 2011 World Cup, will now bring her wealth of experience to Namibia’s journey at the marquee event.

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He will work closely with Namibia head coach Craig Williams and assistant head coach Justin Kemp. The presence of the former Indian head coach will provide the team with tactical precision, calm leadership guidance and invaluable insight into the big matches in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Our Eagles ETFs are committed to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted in India and Sri Lanka.

We wish the team and management all the best as they fly the Namibian flag on the world stage.

Fans, get ready! ✈️🎟️

Travel packages to support the boys will be announced soon. pic.twitter.com/jtA5iV3aIa

– Official Cricket of Namibia (@CricketNamibia1) January 3, 2026

Namibia squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026:

Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, ​​​​Malan Kruger, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jack Brassell, Ben Shikongo, JC Balt, Dylan Leicher, WP Myburgh, Max Heingo.

Traveling reserve: Alexander Volschenk.

The Gary Kirsten Factor: A Major Boost for the Eagles

Gary Kirsten is arguably the biggest headline in this announcement. His proven track record of building cohesive, mentally strong units – evident in India’s 2011 triumph and South Africa’s rise to number one in the Test rankings – is precisely what an emerging team like Namibia needs.

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Kirsten had said on her appointment in December 2025: “It is indeed a privilege to work with Cricket Namibia. I have been very impressed by the dedication and determination required to create a high performance cricket environment.

Their new state-of-the-art cricket stadium is testament to their commitment to ensuring their national teams compete with the best cricketing countries in the world. Their senior men’s national team is performing well and I look forward to adding value to their preparation for the T20 World Cup in February next year.

Also Read: Explosive Indian left-hander’s opener ruled out of cricket ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Format and Namibia Schedule

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be a roller coaster ride, with 20 teams competing in 55 action-packed matches. The tournament will begin with group stage matches, then the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight round.

In this stage, the eight teams will be divided into two groups of four and the best two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will then compete in the final for the championship. With this format, every match will count in the tournament.

They are placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, the United States and the Netherlands. Namibia will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against hosts India on February 12 in Delhi.