Follow UsNamibia's rise in world cricket is well established. After all, they have made it to three consecutive T20 World Cups and are now gunning for their fourth one in 2026. Not just that, they have competed hard in every single one of those tournaments and have also snapped up some big wins - against Ireland, Zimbabwe (qualifiers) and, more recently, against former champions Sri Lanka in 2022.
Safe to say, they are not a side to be taken lightly. In fact, they are on par with the Netherlands in terms of being the best associate team at the moment. But they are not stopping there just yet.
As someone who has seen cricket in Namibia grow, Zane Green, who has played in every edition of the T20 World Cup since 2021, feels there is massive development in schools across all ages in the way they see cricket.
"Yes, there's been a change from school level. Namibia has always been like rugby, soccer type of country, but in the last 3-4 years, there's definitely more school boys and girls playing cricket. Development in cricket all over Namibia has definitely gone up," Green said in a chat with Cricket.com.
"I think that's also like a big change that has happened like, kids and young guys in Namibia can now play cricket can now be like your dream and can earn money and play cricket for a living. I think that has also been one of the good changes in Namibian cricket."
Those kids can one day realise their dream of playing in multiple World Cups like Green, who, in addition to qualifying for the T20 showpiece event in 2026, hopes to play in the 50-over World Cup, which will be played for the first time in Namibia.
"To qualify for that World Cup and on home soil with South Africa and Zimbabwe, that will be massive. It will be huge for cricket in Namibia as a whole. That'll definitely be the goal to qualify for that World Cup use home-ground advantage. You never know what can happen in the game of cricket," Green said.
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However, Namibia's hopes of qualifying for the mega event at home have taken a blip. They have won just one of their last five matches in the CWC League 2 and are in sixth place on the table.
They would have wanted to make the most of their home advantage in the tri-series against the Netherlands and Canada, but they lost both — the latter via a super over.
However, the good news for the Eagles is that there is plenty of time for them to make up ground and finish in the top four, which would guarantee them a place in the World Cup Qualifiers.
"The home series has become more important now. We have to try and get maximum points at home. That's ultimately what it comes down to using your home advantage, conditions, similar like Oman did," Green had said before the start of the ongoing series.
"They used their home advantage. Going forward in the World Cricket League, we're going to have to do the same. We have eight home games left, if I'm not mistaken. We're going to have to capitalise on those eight ODIs and then three more away series and try and get maximum points from those as well."
Speaking of what motivates the Namibian team to keep the hunger to play World Cups one after the other, Green says that his side does not want to miss out on an opportunity to test themselves against the big teams.
"The ultimate goal is to get to the World Cup. And then not only competing, but, showing, showcasing our skills and talents on the world's biggest stage, that, ultimately the World Cup. I'd like not to compare, but like to rate ourselves against the so-called bigger sides and then to compete against them and showcase our skills," the 28-year-old wicketkeeper said.
That has seen them win game after game at the T20 World Cups, but the 2024 edition in the US and the Caribbean was not the best of tournaments for Namibia by the standards they set for themselves.
They were brushed aside by Scotland, Australia and England, but in their first game of the tournament against Oman was a low-scoring humdinger, that went down right to the wire.
Chasing 110, Namibia were in the driver's seat at 73/2 with five overs left. However, things quickly unravelled, and Namibia could not get over the line. David Wiese and Gerhard Erasmus did the job in the super over.
"I think we started off well with the ball, restricting them. The momentum was on our side and then later, in the back end of the game, Oman came back into it. Nerves were right up there. Then the super-over came, where Gerhard [Erasmus] and David [Wiese] played exceptionally well. And at the end, yeah, David could defend the super over for us," Green for whom the win over Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup 2022 was the best moment, said.
Captain Erasmus and head coach Pierre de Bruyn have played a massive role in getting Namibia to where they are. From completely falling off the radar until a decade ago to playing against some of the biggest teams and names, it has been a journey that is nothing short of inspirational.
"Good people to have in your changing room," Green said of Erasmus and de Bruyn.
"Experience-wise, they've played a lot of cricket. They've been through a lot of scenarios, ups and downs. Definitely learning from them, their mindset, small technical areas they can help you with. And so that definitely has been a huge weapon in our changing room and the calmness they bring. I think they've really been good to have you in our changing room."
Green has been doing a neat job for Namibia behind the wickets, but he did not take up the sport with an eye to becoming a wicketkeeper. In fact, he bowled a bit of pace growing up before an opportunity to 'keep came up.
"Growing up, I tried bowling pace. It didn't work out," Green, who loved watching Adam Gilchrist go about his business, said.
"So, the Under-13 team didn't have a keeper in the side. So I said, OK, well, let me give this a go. And I never looked back from then, it turned out pretty good. I enjoy it so much. It's like bowlers like to bowl. It's like their skill. I feel like wicketkeeping is like my contribution my skill that I bring to the team," Green, who has played over 100 white-ball matches for Nambia, said.
For Green and Namibia, things are certainly looking up.
And, to the rest of the world, it might just be scary to think that their best is yet to come.
