African cricket executives have announced ambitious plans for a new T20 tri-series involving South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia as part of a wider push to commercialize it across the region.
The proposed tri-series was discussed during the ICC Africa Regional Conference in Namibia, with officials aiming for a soft launch in August. The three countries will also co-host the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2027.
According to the Cricket Financial Journal, the plan also includes a six-team Africa Cup of Nations. Full members South Africa and Zimbabwe will feature alongside Namibia, currently ranked 15th in the T20I rankings.
The remaining three spots will be filled through regional qualifiers, creating a wider competition track across African cricket.
Administrators initially considered a ten-team tournament, but found a six-team format to be better. The first full-scale Africa Cup of Nations will not take place this year; Instead, the trilateral series will serve as an opening event.
Most of the matches will be played in Namibia, taking advantage of the growing cricket infrastructure.
Providing regular top-level matches for Namibia is seen as important ahead of their World Cup co-hosting duties, and the tournament will provide them with valuable experience against strong teams like South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Full member participation is considered vital to the financial viability of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Previous attempts to establish a major continental T20 event have struggled, but regular involvement from South Africa and Zimbabwe is expected to help secure the broadcast deals and sponsorships needed to sustain the tournament.
The previous T20 Africa Cup of Nations, held between 2022 and 2024, featured only associate nations and faced significant sponsorship issues. African officials now hope to replicate the success of the Asian Cup, which attracts better teams and more spectators.
Associate teams such as Oman and the United Arab Emirates have benefited from consistent exposure to strong opponents at the Asia Cup. African administrators want similar opportunities for teams like Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to help develop the game regionally.
The push for a stable continental tournament comes after plans to revive the Afro-Asia Cup stalled.
The event previously brought together Indian and Pakistani players against an African XI. However, the crowded international calendar now makes planning such events challenging.
Getting a place in the future tour program is a big hurdle especially for leading countries like India.
As a result, African officials have focused on creating their own tournaments, allowing them more control over scheduling rather than relying on other boards.
Despite these challenges, the proposed six-team Africa Cup of Nations represents a significant step forward for regional cricket.
The Confederation of African Cricket is working with the ICC to finalize the dates for the August tri-series between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.