The 2025 Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League, organised by Impact Cricket Namibia, is set to conclude this weekend with the electrifying finals scheduled to take place at the Namibia Cricket Ground on 19 and 20 July in Windhoek.
The tournament is supported by Nedbank Namibia through its Beyond Banking Division with a
N$150,000 sponsorship for the 2025 season.
Twelve teams, namely 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, have battled it out throughout the season, and the stage is now set for a thrilling conclusion. So far, nine teams have been knocked out of the running for the top prize after 41 matches, which
were hosted all over the country.
The finals will be played as a tri-series among the three teams, namely Gobabis Bulls, Cricket Generation Academy, and The Green Mambas, who qualified for the trophy finals playoffs after six matches during the league season.
The top two teams from the tri-series will play the final at 14h00 on 20 July at the Namibia Cricket Ground to determine the winner of the tournament.
The Nedbank Desert Ice Challenge T20 League, now in its third year, was born from a vision to address a critical gap in Namibian cricket development.
The director of Impact Cricket Namibia, Asad Abbas, says the tournament came about after realising that Namibian cricket players are not exposed to 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.’
After this realisation, Impact Cricket Namibia team comprising of Willie Junius, Nyashadzaishe Nyasha, and Asad Abbas set out to establish the Desert Ice Challenge T20 League, whose 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. This consistent exposure to competitive play is crucial for honing skills, building match temperament, and preparing Namibian cricketers for international competition.
Abbas added that this 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 will provide essential resources, enabling the organisers to host exceptional cricket events, covering everything from field sourcing and payment for groundsmen, umpires, scorers, media crew, and content creators to team branding, extensive media coverage, live
scores, live streaming, and prize money.
Nedbank Namibia Head of Beyond Banking, Roean Kruger, expressed the bank’s continued dedication, saying that as money experts, the bank is proud to be associated with the development of cricket in Namibia through the Desert Ice Challenge T20 League: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 concluded by mentioning that the bank is thrilled to be part of the journey to elevate cricket in Namibia.
