Namibia name experienced T20I squad for tri-series vs South Africa, Zimbabwe
Synopsis
Namibia have assembled a blend of seasoned campaigners and fresh faces for a home T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe — and with the Proteas again fielding a second-string side, the hosts have a genuine shot at another upset in Windhoek, where they memorably beat South Africa in October 2024.
Key Takeaways
Namibia have named a 16-man squad for a home T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe , starting Friday in Windhoek .
Gerhard Erasmus captains the side, with veterans Trumpelmann , Smit , Frylinck , Scholtz , and Loftie-Eaton all included.
Comeback batter Michael van Lingen , retired in 2024, is back and expected to open with debutant Junior Taanyanda .
South Africa field a second-string squad led by Bjorn Fortuin ; only Brevis , Pretorius , and Maphaka are first-choice regulars.
Namibia have won five of their last seven T20Is ; the series finale is on 6 September .
Zimbabwe are yet to announce their squad.
Namibia have named a seasoned 16-man squad for a home T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe, with the tournament set to begin later this week at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The seven-match series runs from Friday to 6 September, marking only the second time Namibia have hosted South Africa on home soil.
Key Players in Namibia's Squad
Gerhard Erasmus will captain the side, with veterans Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Ruben Trumpelmann, and Bernard Scholtz all included. Opening batter Michael van Lingen, who came out of retirement in 2024 and featured in the Cricket World Cup League 2 series last month, is also in the mix. Van Lingen has not played a T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup and is expected to open alongside 21-year-old Junior Taanyanda, who made his T20I debut in the recent tri-series against Hong Kong and Nigeria.
Fast bowlers Max Heingo and Waldo Smith add pace depth, while off-spinner JC Balt — the leading wicket-taker in Namibia's previous tri-series — provides a proven spin option.
South Africa Field a Second-String Side
South Africa have opted for a largely experimental squad, with Bjorn Fortuin set to lead. Only Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Kwena Maphaka can be considered first-choice regulars from the full-strength Proteas setup. Notably, this mirrors the situation in October 2024, when South Africa visited Windhoek to inaugurate the Namibia Cricket Ground without several key players — and famously lost that one-off T20I to the hosts. Zimbabwe are yet to announce their squad for the series.
Namibia's Recent Form
Namibia head into the tri-series in encouraging form, having won five of their last seven T20Is. That run included four victories in the tri-series against Nigeria and Hong Kong. Their only blemish in recent months was a 2-1 series defeat to Scotland. The combination of experienced campaigners and emerging talent like Taanyanda suggests Namibia will be competitive hosts.
Full Namibia Squad
Gerhard Erasmus (capt), Michael van Lingen, Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Jack Brassell, Max Heingo, Alex Busing-Volschenk, Junior Taanyanda, Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton, JC Balt, Waldo Smith.
With South Africa fielding a second-string outfit and Zimbabwe yet to confirm their lineup, Namibia will enter the series as credible contenders — and the hosts will be eager to repeat their historic upset of the Proteas on home turf.
Point of View
But it also risks handing Namibia another high-profile scalp on home soil — a repeat of the October 2024 embarrassment. For Namibia, this tri-series is more than a bilateral warm-up; it is a chance to establish the Namibia Cricket Ground as a genuine fortress and to prove that their recent form against Associate nations translates against stronger opposition. The return of Michael van Lingen, even at this level, is a subplot worth watching — his experience at the top of the order could be the difference in close finishes.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining Namibia in the T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe?
Gerhard Erasmus will captain Namibia in the tri-series. The squad also includes experienced players such as Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, and Bernard Scholtz.
When and where does the Namibia T20I tri-series start?
The tri-series begins on Friday and runs through 6 September, with all seven matches scheduled at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Who is Michael van Lingen and why is his inclusion notable?
Michael van Lingen is a Namibian opening batter who retired in 2024 but returned for the Cricket World Cup League 2 series last month. He has not played a T20I since the 2024 T20 World Cup, making his potential return to the format a key storyline of the series.
How strong is South Africa's squad for this tri-series?
South Africa have named a second-string squad led by Bjorn Fortuin. Only Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Kwena Maphaka are considered part of the full-strength Proteas setup, mirroring the weakened side that lost to Namibia in October 2024.
What is Namibia's recent T20I form heading into the series?
Namibia have won five of their last seven T20Is, including four wins in a tri-series against Nigeria and Hong Kong. Their only recent series loss was a 2-1 defeat to Scotland.
