Former Pakistan coach joins Namibia men's team as consultant

WINDHOEK: Cricket Namibia have named former Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten as men’s cricket team consultant ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Kirsten, a former South Africa player, has a wealth of coaching experience under his belt, having previously coached India during their 2011 World Cup triumph, South Africa, and most recently Pakistan.

“Cricket Namibia is proud to announce the appointment of Gary Kirsten as Consultant for the Namibian National Men’s Cricket Teams,” the board wrote in a statement.

Following the announcement, Kirsten expressed his joy at joining Cricket Namibia for the mega event.

“It is indeed a privilege to work with Cricket Namibia,” Kirsten said in a statement from the board.

“I have been thoroughly impressed with the dedication and determination to create a high-performance cricket environment,” he continued.

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He mentioned Namibia’s upgraded cricket facilities while highlighting the men’s team’s performance for the T20 World Cup.

“Their new state-of-the-art cricket stadium is a testament to their commitment to making sure their national teams are competing with the best cricket countries in the world.

Their senior men’s national team is performing well, and I look forward to adding value to their preparation for the T20 World Cup in February next year,” Kirsten remarked.

The 58-year-old Kirsten will work closely with Namibia’s men’s head coach Craig Williams during his consultancy stint.

For the unversed, Namibia has secured qualification for the 20-team World Cup after reaching the final of the ICC Africa qualifiers in Harare earlier this year, marking their fourth consecutive appearance in the event since 2021.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, running from February 7 to March 8.

Namibia are placed alongside the defending champions India, Pakistan, USA, and the Netherlands in Group A.

T20 World Cup Groups:

Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

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