South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will play a T20I tri-series in Windhoek to boost preparations for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

The three co-hosts of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 are set to participate in a landmark T20I tri-series later this month, marking an important step in preparations for the global tournament.

South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will face each other in the competition, which begins on August 28 in Windhoek, Namibia.

The tri-series is expected to strengthen cricketing ties among the three African nations while serving as a key platform ahead of the Cricket World Cup 2027. It will also lay the groundwork for the proposed Africa Cup, a continental competition scheduled to debut next year.

The event carries additional significance as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup returns to Africa for the first time in 24 years. The tournament, scheduled for October and November 2027, will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, bringing elite international cricket back to the continent.

Cricket administrators believe the tri-series will promote greater collaboration among African cricketing nations and provide teams with valuable international match experience.

The initiative is also aimed at enhancing regional competition and creating momentum toward establishing the Africa Cup as a premier international event for African teams.

Officials from the participating cricket boards highlighted that the series reflects a shared commitment to expanding the sport across the continent.

They also noted that the tournament will help generate excitement among fans while giving players an opportunity to compete in high-quality white-ball cricket before the World Cup.

For Namibia, the event represents another milestone in its growing role on the international cricket stage. The country is preparing to co-host its first-ever senior ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup after successfully staging the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year. South Africa and Zimbabwe, meanwhile, previously hosted the 2003 edition of the tournament.

The ICC recently confirmed 12 venues across the three host nations for the 2027 World Cup, further advancing preparations for one of cricket’s biggest global events.

Tri-Series Schedule

August 28: South Africa vs Namibia

August 29: South Africa vs Zimbabwe

August 31: Zimbabwe vs Namibia

September 1: Zimbabwe vs South Africa

September 3: Namibia vs Zimbabwe

September 4: Namibia vs South Africa

September 6: Final (Top two teams)