Namibia ride a wave of belief into Asia

Snapshot

Namibian cricket is having a moment. They have built a world class, albeit small, new ground - where they beat South Africa in a T20I in October, and where Jay Shah himself turned up last month. They successfully co-hosted, with Zimbabwe, this year's Men's Under-19 World Cup. And will look to do the same, with South Africa and Zimbabwe, in next year's Senior Men's World Cup. How could they not ride that wave of positivity all the way to Asia?

The squad, and what it tells us

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.

There are probably fewer cricketers in the whole of Namibia than there are on Mumbai's famous Azad Maidan on any random weekday afternoon. But that does breed continuity - nine members of the squad that went to the 2024 edition of the tournament, where they finished 15th out of 20 teams, are in the mix again. They have never been captained at a T20 World Cup by anyone except Gerhard Erasmus. It never hurts being more experienced than last time.

The road to the World Cup

Namibia secured their spot by reaching the final of the Africa region final in Harare in October last year. They did that by reeling off wins over Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi and Tanzania, but lost the decider against the home side. The memory of the latter disappointment was obliterated by the win - by four wickets off the last ball - over South Africa.

Last five T20Is: W-W-W-L-W

The way they play

Gritty rather than gorgeous. They find a way. Since the start of last year Namibia have won four T20Is batting first and five fielding first. More importantly they have lost only three in that time; twice after batting first and not reaching 170. They have topped 200 thrice and restricted opponents to totals of less than 150 five times.

There is little that is emphatic about the way the Namibians go about things. Maybe because their entire society is built on surviving catastrophe - colonialism, genocide, war - and daring to make a life around one of the world's most ancient deserts. This extends to cricket. Jan Frylinck has scored their only T20I century since the start of last year, and there have been just seven half-centuries. Fast bowler JJ Smit is their leading wicket-taker with a modest haul of 20. Yet here they are, at their four consecutive T20 World Cup.

Who can bend a match in 10 balls

Max Heingo has, at this stage, the barest of presences on the international stage. He has played a solitary T20I and is ranked 1,068th among bowlers in the format. Expect that to change. When you are quick enough to beat Lhuan-dre Pretorius' pull and have him caught behind off the glove, as Heingo did on his international debut, people will notice.

Scheduling

Namibia have never played an international in India. Or in Sri Lanka. They will tick those boxes during the tournament. After settling into Delhi for their first two games, they will be in Chennai and Colombo in the space of the next six days.

Although the conditions at all of those grounds will be new to them, they are among the most adaptable teams around. Like it says above, they find a way. But they don't often have to do so against opponents of the calibre of those they will face at this T20 World Cup. Here's hoping their high-profile consultant, a certain Gary Kirsten, will help them clear that hurdle.

Banana peel fixture

Namibia could beat the Netherlands - they have done so once in four completed T20Is against the Dutch - and anything except an utter hiding by India would be considered a success. So they might be emotionally spent by the time they run out against the ambitious Americans at Chepauk. Erasmus' team should win that game, but they will have to regroup and refocus.

What a good World Cup looks like

Namibia beat the Netherlands and Ireland to reach the Super 12s in 2021. Three years later they needed a Super Over to beat Oman and then lost to Scotland, Australia and England. Their draw this time seems kinder, but more than one win would be progress. A place in the Super Eights would stop the presses.