T20 World Cup 2026: Chuffed to have Gary Kirsten in our set-up, says Namibia coach Williams
The former South African opener, who is here as a consultant for Namibia, is well-versed with what it takes to do well in this part of the world. Besides touring the subcontinent extensively during his playing days, he was notably the coach of the M.S. Dhoni-led Indian team that won the ODI World Cup at home in 2011.
ALSO READ | Mujeeb Ur Rahman redefining PowerPlay roles one variation at a time
Namibia head coach Craig Williams, who represented the African country in the 2021 T20 World Cup, is enthused by Kirsten’s addition to the set-up. The 58-year-old came on board last December after a conversation with Namibia’s assistant coach Justin Kemp, who played for the Proteas from 2001 to 2007.
“Gary is helping us with all our programmes. He knows Indian conditions. He says India is like a second home for him,” Williams said on the sidelines of Namibia’s first practice session on Sunday.
“He’s going to work for the next one year with the team. He will be in and out, but he’s committed for the whole World Cup. There’s not one department that he doesn’t help with. As a young coach, to learn from him is unbelievable. We’re super chuffed to have him.”
Namibia, in its fourth T20 World Cup, is grouped alongside India, Pakistan, the Netherlands and the United States of America (USA). While its chances of progressing beyond this preliminary phase are next to none, the minnow can take heart from the USA and the Netherlands running India and Pakistan, respectively, close on the tournament’s opening day.
“The best Associates are definitely playing more cricket, which helps. Definitely, the gap is closing. The Associate teams have become a lot more professional,” Williams noted.
Published on Feb 08, 2026
Discover more from News Link360
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
