ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Aakash Chopra Discusses Namibia's "Greatest Hurdle" Following A Decisive T20 World Cup Opening Victory

In the opening match of the T20 World Cup on Sunday at the GMHBA Stadium in South Geelong, underdog Namibia defeated Sri Lanka decisively. The Gerhard Erasmus-led team crushed the 2022 Asia Cup champions by 55 runs, shocking cricket fans across the world.

After the game, previous cricket players and spectators praised Namibia, who is also an ICC associate nation. Aakash Chopra, a former Indian batter who joined the chorus, had a different take on the matter.

Although Namibia won a significant victory, the analyst claimed that because associate countries don’t receive enough attention, their achievement may be meaningless. 

Namibia Needs More International Games Against Major Test Nations: Aakash Chopra

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “While appreciating and applauding Namibian victory, please make a ‘note to self’ that you will champion the cause of associate nations once the World Cup gets over too. The biggest hurdle in their growth is the lack of exposure…which can’t happen till they get to play more,”. 

“They’ll get to play against major Test teams if only the BIG teams become inclusive. It’s alright fans etc. celebrating their victories (upsets have their own sense of romanticism) but the onus of their growth isn’t in their own hands. Namibia impressed in the last T20 WC too,”. 

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Smaller Nations Need More Involvement For The Game To Grow: Aakash Chopra

The World Cup is when Afghanistan usually grabs everyone’s attention, but they seldom ever play against top teams after or before those competitions, Chopra continued. He explained, “So does Afghanistan every time they play. But do you ask how many T20i they played against the BIG teams since the last World Cup??

Leave aside Associate Nations for a bit…even Test teams like AFG and Bangladesh have never played a T20i in Aus. And they’re here to compete???,”. 

He concluded, “Give them more games. Play more tri-nation series. Involve them. If you really want the game to grow (and that’s imperative for your own growth-sustainability too), you ought to start remembering that these teams exist outside of the World Cups too. Ends.” 

Namibia knocked Sri Lanka out for 108 in 19 overs when Sri Lanka was defending a score of 164 runs. The Namibian bowlers were in excellent form, with two wickets apiece taken by David Wiese, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, and Jan Frylinck. JJ Smit received a dismissal in the meanwhile. 

Smit initially assisted Namibia in scoring 163 for seven in 20 overs with an undefeated innings of 31 runs off 16 balls. Frylinck also contributed significantly, scoring 44 runs off of 28 balls. For Sri Lanka, Pramod Madushan claimed two wickets.