Erasmus Shalihaxwe
The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League will conclude this weekend with the finals scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
The league, organised by Impact Cricket Namibia, is supported by Nedbank Namibia through its Beyond Banking Division, which provided a N$150 000 sponsorship for the season.
Twelve teams participated in the season including, the UNAM Zebras Legends, Gobabis Bulls, CCD Tigers, Cricket Generation Academy, Okahandja Cricket Club, Windhoek Afrikaans High School, UNAM Zebras Strikers, Cricket Club, Run Whisperers Academy, Over 40s Veterans, Green Mambas, and Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club.
Nine teams have advanced to the finals after 41 matches across the country.
The finals will now be played as a tri-series between Gobabis Bulls, Cricket Generation Academy, and Green Mambas, who qualified after six matches during the season.
Asad Abbas, director of Impact Cricket Namibia, said the Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League, now in its third year, was created to address the lack of high-skill-level matches in Namibian cricket.
“We observed that a high skill level in cricket is a result of many players participating from various backgrounds, as well as the frequency of games and exposure they receive. For example, a player in South Africa will have played thousands of competitive cricket games against thousands of different players before making it to the national team, while a player in Namibia would have played a few hundred games against fewer than a hundred players,” said Abbas.
He said the league was established by a team including Willie Junius and Nyashadzaishe Nyasha to provide continuous, competitive cricket throughout the year.
The goal is to create a platform for more than 180 players from national, premier, and junior divisions to play in a structured and challenging environment.
Abbas said regular exposure to competitive games is important for skill development, match temperament, and preparing players for international cricket.
He added that the league is helping bridge the experience gap that has held back many promising players from advancing to the national team.
“It serves as a vital pathway for promising young players to transition from junior and premier league cricket into the national team setup, bridging the experience gap that previously hindered their progress,” he said.
Roean Kruger, head of Beyond Banking at Nedbank Namibia, said this year marks the second year of the bank’s partnership with Impact Cricket Namibia.
He emphasised the importance of corporate involvement in grassroot sports
“Nedbank Namibia, through the Beyond Banking Division, is incredibly proud to continue our support for this initiative. Our commitment is more than just financial; it’s a strategic investment in the future of Namibian cricket and the broader goals of community upliftment. We believe in the power of sport to build character, foster teamwork, and provide growth opportunities,” said Kruger.
