Namibia to Host South Africa in Historic Clash to Inaugurate Windhoek’s First International Stadium

Cricket Namibia is set to script a historic chapter in its cricketing journey as it prepares to host South Africa for the first time ever in an international fixture. The landmark one-off T20I on October 11, 2025, will mark the official inauguration of Namibia’s first dedicated international cricket stadium in Windhoek — a project years in the making.

A Symbolic Match for a Special Occasion

The encounter not only signifies a deepening of cricketing ties on the African continent but also heralds a new era for Namibian cricket. Until now, Namibia hosted international fixtures at club grounds such as the Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The new stadium — a modern 7000-seater facility — represents the country’s growing stature in world cricket.

“This truly is a memorable occasion,” said Johann Muller, CEO of Cricket Namibia. “The new ground has been a dream for the last four years and has finally materialised. A match against our neighbours, and one of the top cricketing countries in the world, is the perfect way to open this world-class facility.”

Groundbreaking Venue with Global Ambitions

Construction of the stadium began in 2021 as part of a long-term infrastructure vision. Now complete, the ground will play a pivotal role as a host venue for the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup, which Namibia will co-host with Zimbabwe. It is also penciled in as a venue for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Apart from its seating capacity, the stadium will serve as the home for Namibia’s high-performance centre, a significant step toward professionalising cricket in the country.

South Africa’s Support for Continental Cricket

This T20I will be the first-ever official match between South Africa and Namibia in any international format — a notable statistic given their shared border and regional proximity.

Pholesti Moseki, CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA), emphasized the significance of this fixture:

“Namibia are a competitive side, and this fixture reflects the growing strength of cricket on the continent. As a fellow African cricketing nation and the host of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, we are proud to support the official opening of this new cricket ground.”

South Africa’s increasing involvement in regional development was underscored by their scheduled tour to Zimbabwe later this year — their first in over a decade — featuring two Test matches and a T20I tri-series.

Namibia’s Rising Stock in Global Cricket

Namibia’s rise has been one of the inspiring stories in Associate cricket. They’ve featured in the last three ICC T20 World Cups, including their memorable win over Sri Lanka in Geelong in 2022.

Before the October fixture, Namibia will compete in the Africa T20 World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, hoping to secure one of two coveted spots for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

A Milestone with Continental Significance

This fixture and the new stadium symbolize the expansion of international cricket beyond traditional powerhouses, into emerging territories where the sport is gathering momentum. It underscores the role of continental cooperation in elevating the game’s profile across Africa.

The October 11 showdown in Windhoek promises to be more than a cricket match — it’s the celebration of a vision realized and a future being built.

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