Namibia Frustrated by Lack of Night Practice Before India Match
Namibia’s cricket team faces challenges as they prepare for their crucial match against India in the 2026 T20 World Cup. After losing to the Netherlands, the players gathered at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium for practice. However, they encountered a significant hurdle due to a lack of night training. The upcoming game against India is set to be played under floodlights, making this preparation crucial.
Training Challenges for Namibia
Namibia’s captain, Gerhard Erasmus, expressed frustration over the missed opportunity to train at night. Despite seeing Canada practicing under lights alongside the Indian team, Namibia was forced to train in the afternoon. Erasmus pointed out that their home country lacks the infrastructure necessary for nighttime cricket. He stated, “We haven’t got any lights in Namibia. Infrastructure-wise, it’s probably the challenge for us.”
India Match Preparation
The ICC had provided all teams with their training schedules well before the tournament, leaving little room for last-minute requests. Namibia’s late appeal for night training was made only the night before their session, making it impossible to accommodate. According to an ICC representative, “Requests for changes in timings were accommodated wherever possible, considering available slots.” Sadly, Namibia’s late request did not allow for any adjustments.
Coaching Staff’s Perspective
Namibia’s coach, Craig Williams, anticipated a night training session that would assist the players in preparing for the match against India. He acknowledged the difficulties of playing under lights, as the team has limited experience in similar conditions. Williams stated, “For us, playing under lights is always going to be difficult because we don’t play that much under lights.”
- Team: Namibia
- Opponent: India
- Location: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Date of Match: Thursday (exact date unspecified)
- Previous Match: Namibia vs. Netherlands
- Training Under Lights: Not accommodated for Namibia
Despite these obstacles, Namibia remains determined to face their opponents head-on. As Erasmus noted, they plan to embrace their resilient spirit and “rock up and do our Namibian way, which is to fight.” With the odds stacked against them, they aim to make an impact in the World Cup.
