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

Cricket Namibia has officially unveiled its 15-player 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 their fourth straight T20 World Cup appearance.

Gary Kirsten Joins Namibia as Consultant as ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Squad Announced

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 at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7.

One of the most exciting parts of this announcement is the arrival of the South African legend Gary Kirsten as a consultant for the tournament. Kirsten, who famously guided India to their historic 2011 World Cup triumph, will now lend his vast experience to Namibia’s journey at the showpiece event.

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He will work closely with the Namibia head coach Craig Williams and assistant head coach Justin Kemp. The former Indian head coach’s presence will bring tactical sharpness, calm leadership guidance, and invaluable big-match insight to the squad in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

Our FNB Eagles are locked in for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, hosted in India & Sri Lanka.

Wishing the team and management the best as they fly the Namibian flag on the global stage.

Fans, get ready! ✈️🎟️

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

— Official Cricket Namibia (@CricketNamibia1) January 3, 2026

Namibia’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Squad:

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.

Travelling Reserve: Alexander Volschenk.

The Gary Kirsten Factor: A Major Boost for the Eagles

Gary Kirsten is arguably the biggest headline from this announcement. His proven track record of building cohesive, mentally strong units—evident in India's 2011 triumph and South Africa's rise to No. 1 in Test rankings—is precisely what an emerging team like Namibia needs.

Read Also: India’s explosive left-handed opener ruled out of cricket before T20 World Cup 2026

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

Their new state-of-the-art cricket stadium is a testament to their commitment to making sure their national teams are competing with the best cricket 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.”

Read Also: India’s explosive left-handed opener ruled out of cricket before T20 World Cup 2026

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Format and Namibia Schedule

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to be a rollercoaster, with 20 teams going head-to-head in 55 action-packed matches. The tournament will kick off with the group-stage games, and then the top two teams in each group will move on to the Super Eight round.

In this stage, the eight teams will be split into two groups of four, and the two best teams from each group will make it to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals will then battle it out in the final for the championship. With this format, every match will count in the tournament.

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