JJ Smit Takes Charge of Namibia for ICC CWC League 2 Tri-Series Against Oman and Scotland
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Key Takeaways
New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) Regular captain Gerhard Erasmus is stepping aside as Namibia's captain, with all-rounder JJ Smit taking over the reins for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series. This event will take place in Windhoek and will include teams from Oman and Scotland.
The series consists of six matches starting on April 2, contributing to the ongoing League 2 cycle. Currently, Namibia is positioned sixth on the League 2 table and is keen to leverage their home advantage to enhance their ranking and stay competitive among the top four teams.
At the end of this phase, the leading four teams will secure spots in the main pathway tournament leading to the next ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
Smit will lead a squad of 15 players during the Windhoek leg, introducing new talents William Lottering and Zacheo Jansen van Vuuren. The team also retains a strong lineup from their recent participation in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Namibia's performance in that tournament was disappointing, as they were eliminated in the group stage after losing all four matches in Group A. Under Erasmus’s leadership, the team ended at the bottom of the table without earning any points.
Their campaign began with a loss to The Netherlands, who successfully chased down Namibia's score of 156/8 to win by seven wickets. This was followed by a significant defeat against India, where Namibia was bowled out for 116 while chasing 210, resulting in a 93-run loss.
A further setback occurred with a 31-run loss to the United States, culminating in a heavy 102-run defeat to Pakistan, as Namibia was dismissed for only 97 runs.
Namibia's tri-series campaign will kick off against Oman on April 4, as they aim to showcase better performances and regain their form.
Namibia squad: JJ Smit (c), Gerhard Erasmus, Max Heingo, Bernard Scholtz, Jan Frylinck, Dylan Leicher, William Lottering, Zacheo Jansen van Vuuren, Malan Kruger, Ben Shikongo, Ruben Trumpelmann, Jack Brassell, Zane Green, WP Myburgh, Louren Steenkamp