South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will play a T20I tri-series starting on 28 August 2026. The three nations will compete in the Namibian capital of Windhoek. They will prepare for their roles as co-hosts of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. All matches will take place at the Namibia Cricket Ground to grow African cricket.
The seven-match T20I tri-series is a precursor to a proposed Africa T20 Cup, which is being discussed from 2027 onwards https://t.co/vMuqCvLdlv
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) August 7, 2026
A New Era for African Cricket
This tri-series marks a major step forward for the sport in Africa. The cricket boards of the three nations agreed to hold this T20 competition every year on a rotational basis. Consequently, this initiative ensures that the leading teams on the continent receive regular competitive match time.
The series is more than a short tournament. It plays a significant role for the upcoming 2027 World Cup, which will be held in October and November next year. So, players and officials look at this as an important warm-up for the biggest event in world cricket.
Full Schedule for the T20I Tri-Series
The tournament features a double round-robin format where each team plays the others twice. Following these matches, the top two teams will meet in a final to decide the winner.
It’s Tour Time! 🏏🇿🇦#TheProteas are headed to Namibia for an exciting campaign, kicking things off with a T20I Tri-Series against hosts Namibia and Zimbabwe before taking on Namibia in an ODI series.
Three nations. One stage. Another opportunity to build momentum. 💪… pic.twitter.com/c3SGskU2KS
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 7, 2026
Date
Match
Format
Location
28 August
South Africa vs Namibia
T20I
Windhoek
29 August
South Africa vs Zimbabwe
T20I
Windhoek
31 August
Zimbabwe vs Namibia
T20I
Windhoek
1 September
Zimbabwe vs South Africa
T20I
Windhoek
3 September
Namibia vs Zimbabwe
T20I
Windhoek
4 September
Namibia vs South Africa
T20I
Windhoek
6 September
Tournament Final (Top 2 Teams)
T20I
Windhoek
9 September
Namibia vs South Africa (1st ODI)
ODI
Windhoek
11 September
Namibia vs South Africa (2nd ODI)
ODI
Windhoek
13 September
Namibia vs South Africa (3rd ODI)
ODI
Windhoek
Building Momentum for the 2027 ICC World Cup
The 2027 World Cup will mark the first time the tournament has visited Africa in 24 years. In 2003, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya hosted the event. However, the 2027 edition welcomes Namibia as a senior host for the first time.
Namibia recently gained experience by hosting the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup earlier in 2026. Therefore, this tri-series helps the nation test its facilities and operations before the global showpiece arrives next year. Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) recently confirmed 12 different venues across the three countries that will host World Cup matches.
The Vision for a Continental Africa Cup
Organisers intend for this tri-series to lead into the launch of the Africa Cup in 2027. Tavengwa Mukuhlani, the chairman of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA), stated that this tournament begins an exciting new chapter. He believes that regular competition between these three nations creates a strong foundation for the entire continent.
The ACA plans to expand the Africa Cup in the future. The goal is to bring more African countries into the fold and establish a flagship tournament that is a commercial success. In support of this, all profits from the ongoing tri-series will go to the Africa Cricket Association to help the growth of the game in other areas.
What the Leaders Have Said About the Partnership
Chief executives from the three cricket boards have expressed strong support for the partnership. Pholetsi Moseki, the CEO of Cricket South Africa, noted that the tour shows a commitment to helping neighbouring countries. He also believes the matches will generate excitement among fans before the World Cup begins.
Hear from our CEO, Johan Muller.
As excitement builds for the FNB T20 Tri-Series, Johan reflects on the opportunity to compete against Africa’s top cricketing nations and thanks FNB Namibia for their continued support. pic.twitter.com/Lzi6F7MySW
— Official Cricket Namibia (@CricketNamibia1) August 7, 2026
Similarly, Cricket Namibia CEO Johan Muller thanked South Africa and Zimbabwe for their commitment. He explained that the idea for the tri-series came from discussions held during the opening of Namibia’s new international ground. This shared vision aims to ensure a stronger African presence on the world stage for years to come.
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