Namibia is set to co host the 16th edition of the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup alongside Zimbabwe, with matches getting underway this month in a tournament expected to draw global attention.
The youth showpiece, organised by the International Cricket Council, will run from Thursday 15 January to 6 February, bringing together sixteen national teams competing across venues in both countries. The opening match will see India face the United States, while the final is scheduled for early February.
Cricket Namibia marketing manager Natalia Nauyoma said the country was prepared to welcome the world despite not qualifying for the tournament. She said Namibia was ready to host top level youth cricket and showcase its ability to stage major international events.
The 2026 ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will be broadcast in more than 204 countries, with a potential audience of over one billion viewers, giving the region rare global exposure. For cricket stakeholders in Eswatini, the tournament offers a nearby opportunity to follow emerging international talent and benchmark youth development pathways.
The previous edition of the competition was held in South Africa in 2024, where Australia defeated India in the final. India remains the most successful nation in the tournament’s history with five titles, followed by Australia with four. Pakistan has lifted the trophy twice, while West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England have each won it once.
The tournament format sees the sixteen teams divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, Ireland, Japan and Sri Lanka. Group B features Bangladesh, India, New Zealand and the United States. Group C consists of England, Pakistan, Scotland and Zimbabwe, while Group D includes Afghanistan, South Africa, Tanzania and West Indies.
Matches will be played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Namibia hosting sixteen games in total. Local matches will take place in Windhoek at the Namibia Cricket Ground and the High Performance Oval.
Five matches are scheduled in Namibia between 15 and 18 January. Tanzania will face West Indies on 15 January at the High Performance Oval. On 16 January, Australia will play Ireland at the Namibia Cricket Ground, while Afghanistan takes on South Africa at the High Performance Oval. Japan meets Sri Lanka on 17 January at the Namibia Cricket Ground, followed by West Indies against Afghanistan on 18 January at the High Performance Oval. All matches are set to start at 09h30.
Discussion about this post