Sports

Namibia and South Africa Set for First-Ever ODI Series Amid Differing World Cup Stakes

By Telford Vice

Namibia and South Africa will meet for the first time in a men's ODI when a three-match series begins in Windhoek on Wednesday, despite the two nations sharing a 967-kilometre border and having faced each other in 79 combined ODIs against 14 other teams, five of them ICC full members.

South Africa go into the series as firm favourites, though several established players have been left out. Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi were all instead named on Wednesday for a separate three-match home ODI series against Australia, running from September 24 to 30.

The Namibia series is viewed as an opportunity for South Africa to fine-tune combinations and assess depth ahead of the 50-over World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November next year. Head coach Shukri Conrad said the series against Namibia and the one against Australia were primarily about giving fringe players opportunities, with a clearer picture of the World Cup squad likely to emerge during a home series against England in January.