'Warm-up in Windhoek?': Namibia Captain Gerhard Erasmus Invites India for Bilateral Series

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus has invited Team India to his country for a bilateral series. The Men in Blue are set to tour South Africa for a T20I series in November this year. It will be a four-match assignment, beginning on November 8. The four T20Is will be hosted in Gqeberha, Centurion and Johannesburg till November 15. Cricket South Africa shared the schedule and the other details of the series on X (formerly Twitter). The post read, “Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are delighted to confirm the scheduling of yet another thrilling KFC T20 International (T20I) series, which will see India travelling to South Africa in November 2024.”

After the announcement came to light, Gerhard Erasmus requested the Indian cricket board to organise a tour of Namibia. “Hey BCCI, warm-up in Windhoek?” Erasmus wrote on X, resharing the post by Cricket South Africa. India played two T20Is against Namibia earlier and emerged victorious on both occasions.

Namibia have already competed in three T20 World Cups, including the ongoing tournament. The African nation qualified for the Super 12s in the debut campaign in 2021 but failed to go pass the group stage in the following two editions.

Many fans are on board with Gerhard Erasmus’ idea as they feel hosting a team like India will help Namibia earn more recognition. India will travel to Zimbabwe to play a five-match T20I series following the conclusion of the ongoing World Cup. The BCCI is likely to send a young squad, resting the senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah.

Referring to the impending assignment, a fan said, “I mean if we can have a series with a team that didn’t qualify for the World Cup (Zimbabwe if you ask) then why not with a team that did play the World Cup? I’d love to see India play against Namibia.”

Another fan reckons the BCCI may plan a “mini-series” in Namibia, if not a lengthy one due to time-management issues.

A user called Gerhard Erusmas as a “true representative of Namibia.”

Namibia have managed just one win in this T20 World Cup. In the tournament opener, the African unit registered an 11-run win over Oman in a Super Over clash. Namibia lost the next three group-league fixtures to Scotland, Australia and England.

Meanwhile, India will cross swords against Bangladesh in the second Super Eight game on June 22.

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