Kenya’s World Cup bid faces major test against Namibia

Nigeria and Malawi are the other teams drawn in Group “A” while Group “B” has hosts Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana.

Four matches are on the cards today with Uganda scheduled to play Test nation Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in the afternoon.

At Takashinga Ground in Harare, Nigeria will play Malawi in the morning before Tanzania’s clash with Botswana in the afternoon.

Although Kenya boasts five World Cup appearances, they have featured in the T20 World Cup just once – in 2007 in South Africa.

Kenya’s other global outings were in the One Day International in the 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2011 World Cups.

Coached by former international Joseph Angara, Kenya will be carrying scars when they step onto the field to face Namibia.

The Southern Africa nation has dominated their meetings. The two teams last met in the 2024 ICC T20 Men’s T20 World Cup qualifier in Windhoek on November 27, 2023. The hosts won by six wickets. Previously, in October 2019, Namibia thrashed Kenya by 87 runs in a 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup qualifier held in the UAE. Namibia have featured in the last three ICC Men’s T20 World Cup; 2021, 2022 and 2024.

Despite the odds being stacked against Kenya, Angara is optimistic his side will carry the day. “T20 is all about how you execute your plan. It’s anybody’s game,” said Angara, who was part of Kenya’s 1999 and 2003 World Cup squads.

The Kenyan squad for the competition consist of several experienced players, including captain Dhiren Gondaria, Rakep Patel, Lucas Oluoch, and Nelson Odhiambo.

Angara draws motivation for a positive outcome against Namibia from the good performance of his top-order department in their warm-up match against Tanzania on Wednesday. While Kenya lost the match by six wickets, Gondaria and Patel posted 52 and 51 runs respectively.

Sachin Gill will be available for the match against Namibia after his swollen hand healed. However, Neil Mugabe will miss out due to a knee injury.

“The top order have started to get runs which is something that is very positive. We hope they can carry the same form in our match against Namibia,” said the coach, thanking the ICC for organising the warm up matches.

Kenya lost by nine wickets to Zimbabwe in their first warm up match on Monday. Unlike most teams in the qualifier, Kenya’s preparations have been far from ideal as they only trained among themselves at home.

While Sachin Gill is expected to be available for the match against Namibia after his swollen hand healed, Angara said Neil Mugabe will miss out due to a knee injury.

“Anything can happen in cricket. Even big teams have bad days. I think one good game might change everything. We just need stick to our plans,” said Gondaria, singling out Zimbabwe as their biggest threat in the qualifier.

Zimbabwe are seeking to return to the World Cup after missing the 2024 edition co-hosted by the US and West Indies.

For Uganda, they are chasing back-to-back World Cup appearances having made their debut in the last edition.

Today’s matches

(Harare Sports Club)

Namibia v Kenya 9:30am (10:30am Kenyan time)

Uganda v Zimbabwe 1:50pm (2:50pm Kenyan time)

Takashinga Ground

Nigeria v Malawi 9:30am (10:30am Kenyan time)

Tanzania v Botswana 1:50pm (2:50pm Kenyan time)