Namibia Captain Says Training Was Unfair Before India Match

Namibia's cricket team captain, Gerhard Erasmus, has said his team did not get to train at night before their T20 World Cup match against India. He feels this is unfair as India did get night training. This could make it harder for Namibia to play well in the game that starts at night.
By Newsroom | Cricket, International Sports |

A dispute has emerged regarding the fairness of training arrangements for the upcoming T20 World Cup match between India and Namibia in Delhi. Namibia's captain, Gerhard Erasmus, has voiced concerns that his team was not allocated night training sessions, unlike the Indian squad, potentially impacting their preparation for a game scheduled to begin under floodlights.

Unequal Practice Under Lights Sparks Controversy

The T20 World Cup 2026 fixture between India and Namibia is set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The match is scheduled for a 7:00 PM IST start, meaning it will be played under the stadium's floodlights. Namibia's captain, Gerhard Erasmus, has highlighted a perceived disparity in the training facilities provided to the two teams in the lead-up to this match.

IND vs NAM: Is ICC unfair to associate nations? Namibia captain’s complaint sparks controversy before T20 World Cup 2026 clash with India - 1

"We haven't been given a night training (session) before this game, I don't know why." - Gerhard Erasmus

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Erasmus stated that while the Indian team was granted two separate training sessions under the floodlights, the Namibian team was assigned afternoon slots (2 PM-5 PM IST). This, he argued, prevents his squad from adequately acclimatizing to playing conditions at night. For Namibia, this lack of experience is particularly concerning, as Erasmus noted that their domestic infrastructure lacks international-standard floodlights. Consequently, most of the Namibian players have limited experience playing under lights outside of franchise leagues.

Training Disparities and Infrastructure Challenges

The core of the complaint revolves around the allocation of training times at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Reports indicate the following:

IND vs NAM: Is ICC unfair to associate nations? Namibia captain’s complaint sparks controversy before T20 World Cup 2026 clash with India - 2

  • India: Was granted two night training sessions.

  • Namibia: Was allocated only afternoon training slots, with no sessions after sunset or when the floodlights were switched on.

This situation is exacerbated by Namibia's domestic cricket setup. Erasmus emphasized that the absence of floodlights in their home grounds means players rarely get to practice or play in such conditions. He noted that the team's experience with night play is largely limited to participation in leagues like the ILT20 or the Nepal Premier League.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing questions regarding its scheduling and provision of facilities. While India entered the match after a victory against the USA, Namibia's preparation has been overshadowed by this training imbalance. The Arun Jaitley Stadium fixture is noted as Namibia's only night match in the group stage; their other games are scheduled to start at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM IST.

IND vs NAM: Is ICC unfair to associate nations? Namibia captain’s complaint sparks controversy before T20 World Cup 2026 clash with India - 3

Players' Experience and Tournament Schedule

Erasmus's remarks underscore a broader challenge for associate nations in international cricket. Players who do not regularly compete in major leagues or at venues with advanced infrastructure often face a steeper learning curve when transitioning to different playing conditions.

"Infrastructure wise it’s probably the challenge for us, so yeah it’s not a casual thing for guys that don’t have [experience]… I think barring the guys who played in the Nepal Premier League and the ILT20 and the World Cups that we’ve played, you don’t really get accustomed to lights and training under them very often." - Gerhard Erasmus

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This lack of consistent exposure to night conditions is seen as a significant disadvantage, especially when facing a top-tier team like India, who are accustomed to playing under floodlights in major tournaments.

IND vs NAM: Is ICC unfair to associate nations? Namibia captain’s complaint sparks controversy before T20 World Cup 2026 clash with India - 4

Evidence of Unequal Access

  • India's Training: Reportedly held two sessions under floodlights (Articles 1, 3, 9).

  • Namibia's Training: Assigned afternoon slots, with no night sessions (Articles 1, 4, 5, 8, 10).

  • Namibia's Infrastructure: Lacks international-standard floodlights, limiting players' experience (Articles 1, 4, 6).

  • Match Context: India vs. Namibia is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST, a night game for Namibia (Articles 2, 8, 16).

  • Other Teams' Training: Canada was also reportedly scheduled for a night training session on the same day Namibia trained in the afternoon (Articles 5, 8, 9). Oman also reportedly trained alongside India in the evening slot, despite their match being a 3:00 PM start (Article 10).

Impact on Player Acclimatization

The primary concern raised is the acclimatization of Namibian players to the specific conditions of playing under lights, including visibility, dew factor, and overall game management. Without dedicated night practice, adapting to these elements during the actual match could prove challenging.

Expert Analysis and Reactions

While no direct expert analysis from the provided data refutes Erasmus's claims, the situation highlights a recurring debate in international cricket concerning the support and facilities provided to associate nations. The disparity in training opportunities could be interpreted as an indirect advantage for the host nation, India.

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  • The ICC's role in ensuring equitable preparation conditions for all participating teams is implicitly questioned.

  • The importance of infrastructure in developing nations is brought to the forefront, impacting their ability to compete at the highest level.

Conclusion and Future Implications

Namibia's captain, Gerhard Erasmus, has articulated a clear grievance regarding the training schedule ahead of their T20 World Cup match against India. The accusation centers on India receiving preferential treatment with night training sessions, while Namibia was denied such opportunities. This alleged imbalance is directly linked to Namibia's limited domestic infrastructure for playing under lights, a disadvantage that Erasmus believes will affect his team's performance.

The controversy raises pertinent questions about the ICC's commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all teams, particularly associate nations. While the specific outcomes of this complaint remain to be seen, it underscores the ongoing challenges faced by smaller cricketing nations in accessing resources comparable to established teams. The scheduling of training sessions, especially in the context of unique playing conditions like night matches, is a crucial element of preparation that appears to have been unevenly applied in this instance.

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Most Used Sources & Their Context:

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Namibia's captain unhappy?
He is unhappy because his team did not get to train at night before playing India in the T20 World Cup, but India's team did. He thinks this is unfair.
Q: When does the match start?
The match between India and Namibia starts at 7:00 PM in Delhi, which means it will be played under the stadium lights.
Q: Why is night training important?
Playing under lights can be different from playing in the day. Namibia's captain says his players do not have much experience playing at night because their home grounds do not have good lights.
Q: Did other teams also train at night?
Reports say that Canada and Oman also had chances to train at night, even though their match times were different.