Cricket fever peaks ahead of Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge finals

The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League, organised by Impact Cricket Namibia, is set to conclude this weekend with electrifying finals scheduled to take place at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek on Saturday and Sunday.The tournament is supported by Nedbank Namibia through its Beyond Banking division, with a N$150 000 sponsorship for the 2025 season.Twelve teams, including Unam Zebras Legends, Gobabis Bulls, CCD Tigers, Cricket Generation Academy, Okahandja Cricket Club, Windhoek Afrikaans Private School, Unam Zebras Strikers, Cricket Club, Run Whisperers Academy, Over 40s Veterans, Green Mambas and Tsumeb Old Boys Cricket Club. They have battled it out throughout the season and the stage is now set for a thrilling finale.So far, nine teams have been knocked out of the running for the top prize after 41 matches played across the country.The finals will be played as a tri-series among the three qualifying teams, including Gobabis Bulls, Cricket Generation Academy and the Green Mambas, who advanced to the trophy finals playoffs after six league matches.The top two teams from the tri-series will face off in the final at 14:00 on Sunday at the Namibia Cricket Ground to determine the winner of the tournament.BackgroundNow in its third year, the Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League was born from a vision to address a critical gap in Namibian cricket development.Director of Impact Cricket Namibia Asad Abbas explained that the tournament was initiated after realising that Namibian cricket players are not exposed to a sufficient number of high-skill-level matches compared to other countries:“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.”Following this realisation, the Impact Cricket Namibia team, comprising Willie Junius, Nyashadzaishe Nyasha and Asad Abbas, set out to establish the Desert Ice Challenge T20 League. Its primary purpose is to provide continuous, high-quality competitive cricket throughout the year, offering a vital platform for over 180 players from the national, premier and junior divisions to compete in a professionally managed and challenging environment.Crucial preparation for international competitionThis consistent exposure to competitive play is crucial for honing skills, building match temperament and preparing Namibian cricketers for international competition.Abbas added that the league now plays a pivotal role in developing domestic cricket talent by creating a strong competitive structure:“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 the finals promise to be a fiercely contested affair, showcasing the significant improvement in skill and competitive spirit.Meanwhile, this year marks the second consecutive year of Nedbank Namibia’s partnership with Impact Cricket Namibia, a collaboration designed to nurture young talent and foster the growth of cricket nationwide. The sponsorship provides essential resources, enabling organisers to host exceptional cricket events. These include costs associated with field sourcing, payment for groundsmen, umpires, scorers, media crews and content creators, as well as team branding, extensive media coverage, live scores, live streaming and prize money.Continued commitmentHead of Beyond Banking at Nedbank Namibia Roean Kruger expressed the bank’s continued commitment:“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.”He added that corporate support for initiatives of this nature is vital, as it provides the necessary infrastructure and resources for talent identification and development, ensuring that promising young athletes have the chance to excel.Kruger further added that the bank is thrilled to be part of the journey to elevate cricket in Namibia.

Cricket fever peaks ahead of Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge finals

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Republikein 2025-11-04

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Cricket fever peaks ahead of Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge finals

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