Thakur leads Nam to first Africa T20 Cup

Cricket Namibia’s interim coach Daynand ‘Dee’ Thakur, who was appointed last month, will lead the team to the first Africa Twenty20 (T20) Cup in South Africa. The national team will leave for South Africa today to compete in the T20 Africa Cup in the mining town of Kimberley. Thakur told Namibian Sun that the team’s attitude has changed since he joined them, and the team is in form and ready to compete at the tournament. “We had four warm-up games at home recently and they all went well. We are in good form and know that it won’t be easy that side but we are ready,” he said. He added that the pressure won’t be easy as they will be playing against professional teams, but he is optimistic that they will win. Thakur was appointed as the team’s interim coach until the end of January next year following the termination of Coach Doug Watson’s contract last month. The tournament will see 13 South African provincial sides compete with Namibia, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Matches started on September 4 and will run until October 4. The Namibian ‘Eagles’ are in pool C alongside the provincial teams Griqualand West, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Province. Namibia will face Griqualand West in their first encounter on Saturday at 13:00 before taking on KwaZulu-Natal at 16:30 on the same day, and on Sunday they will battle it out with Eastern Province at 10:00. The four group winners will advance to the semi-finals. Stephen Baard will captain the Namibian side for the first time. The right-hand batsman delivered an impressive performance during the T20 World Cup Qualifier in July by scoring the most runs of the entire tournament. “It’s somewhat of a new start for us in terms of the new management. Although the group of players is more or less the same that went to the T20 Qualifiers, we have a new outlook and approach to things. Also with me being elected to captain the team,” Baard said. Baard added that the team’s aim is to end first in the group, and although the competition is obviously very though, it will be a good challenge. Baard further said that working with Thakur has been very positive so far. “Personally I have enjoyed working with him and I think the rest of the team as well. He understands how the players think and that is very positive,” he said. KAINO NGHITONGO