Historic T20I Tri-Series Set to Kick Off in Windhoek

A landmark T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia is set to take place in Windhoek from August 28 to September 6. This tournament is a significant step towards the Africa Cup 2027, aimed at enhancing international cricket competition among African nations. Led by Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the initiative seeks to create a sustainable platform for African teams to compete at higher levels. The series will include several matches, culminating in a final on September 6. This event marks the beginning of a new era for African cricket, with aspirations to elevate standards and foster collaboration across the continent.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 7, 2026, 23:44 IST

Inaugural T20I Tri-Series Announced

A significant T20I tri-series featuring Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia is scheduled to take place in Windhoek later this month. This event marks a crucial step towards the establishment of the Africa Cup in 2027.

Foundation for the Africa Cup 2027

Running from August 28 to September 6, this tournament is part of a broader initiative aimed at fostering regular, high-quality international cricket among African nations and enhancing collaboration across the continent, as stated by Zimbabwe Cricket.

Led by Tavengwa Mukuhlani, Chairman of the Africa Cricket Association, this initiative is designed to lay the groundwork for the Africa Cup, a premier continental tournament that will provide African teams with a structured platform for high-level competition. The concept gained traction during the 2026 ICC Africa Annual Conference held in Windhoek, where cricket boards from across Africa supported the establishment of a sustainable competition focused on collaboration and high-performance cricket.

Initially, the Africa Cup will include Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia, with plans to rotate hosting responsibilities and eventually expand to include more African nations through a qualification process.

A New Era for African Cricket

Mukuhlani emphasized that the Windhoek tournament is a pivotal first step towards the Africa Cup's launch in 2027. The goal is to create a sustainable continental competition that enhances standards, fosters collaboration, and provides African teams with a pathway to compete at a higher level. He stated, "This tournament signifies the start of an exciting new chapter for African cricket. By uniting Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia in regular, competitive international matches, we are establishing the foundation for something much larger for our continent. Our vision is to introduce the Africa Cup in 2027 and gradually develop it into the flagship international tournament for African cricket. We aim to create a sustainable competition that elevates standards, strengthens collaboration, and ultimately offers cricket nations across Africa a clear route to compete on the continental stage."

T20I Tri-Series Schedule

The fixtures for the T20I tri-series are as follows:

28 August: South Africa vs Namibia

29 August: South Africa vs Zimbabwe

31 August: Zimbabwe vs Namibia

1 September: Zimbabwe vs South Africa

3 September: Namibia vs Zimbabwe

4 September: Namibia vs South Africa

6 September: Final (top two teams).