Faf du Plessis has been appointed captain of Namibia’s U-19 cricket team for the World Cup Qualifiers, where they will face teams like Nigeria and Kenya. The tournament is critical for Namibia, which aims to qualify for the 2026 U-19 World Cup while Zimbabwe has already qualified as a host nation. Australia is the defending champion from the previous edition.
Faf du Plessis, the promising cricketer from Namibia, has been appointed the captain of the national under-19 team for the World Cup Qualifiers. This 17-year-old shares a name with the famous South African player from the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has gained recognition for his right-handed batting and impressive leg-spin bowling skills.
Having earned three caps for Namibia’s U-19 team, Faf du Plessis is set to lead his squad against challenging rivals including Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. The qualifiers, taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, will commence with Namibia’s opening match against Nigeria scheduled for March 28.
All matches for Namibia will be hosted at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval. Following their initial game against Nigeria, Namibia will also face Sierra Leone. This tournament is critical as the winning team will qualify to represent Africa in the 2026 U-19 World Cup. Namibia, a co-host of the upcoming World Cup along with Zimbabwe, has significant stakes in the competition.
It is important to note that unlike Namibia, Zimbabwe has automatically qualified for the 2026 U-19 World Cup by virtue of being a host nation. The upcoming event will be the 16th edition of the tournament, which continues a rich tradition within youth cricket.
In the previous edition of the World Cup, Australia competed as the defending champions. They won the final in 2024 held in South Africa against India, overcoming a fierce semi-final against Pakistan by just one wicket. India made it to the final by defeating South Africa by two wickets, but ultimately managed only 174 runs in response to Australia’s strong score of 253-7. Key performances included Harjas Singh’s critical innings of 55 runs for Australia and Adarsh Singh’s 47 for India.
Faf du Plessis’s captaincy of Namibia’s under-19 team for the World Cup Qualifiers marks a significant opportunity for both the player and the nation. The stakes are high as they compete for a chance to play in the prestigious 2026 U-19 World Cup. This edition is crucial for Namibia, a co-host of the tournament, in contrast to Zimbabwe, which has already qualified.
Original Source: odishatv.in
