Kenya with a mountain to climb ahead of final T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 24.09.25. | 12:27
The team, ranked 33rd in the world, will face Tanzania in their final warm-up match on Wednesday, 24 September
Kenya's men’s national cricket team will have their work cut out to secure a place in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, set for India and Sri Lanka in February to March next year.
The team, led by former player Joseph Angara, are currently in Harare, Zimbabwe, where they will seek to finish among the top two nations in the final regional Africa Qualifier, scheduled to bowl off on Friday, 26 September to Saturday, 4 October.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
Kenya, who finished second in the Africa Qualifier B in Nairobi last year, have been pooled in Group A, where they will take on Malawi, Nigeria and one of the two teams that earned byes by virtue of participating in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, Namibia.
Group B, on the other hand, comprises Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Here are fixtures for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2025, running from 26 September to 4 October in Harare.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7WkMs8abAI
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) September 18, 2025
Each team will face their group rivals once, with the semi-finals determining the two finalists who will not only contest for the regional crown but also secure coveted berths at the global showpiece.
Kenya last played in the T20 World Cup in 2007, and based on current form, will need to pick themselves up quite quickly to return to the same stage next year.
Rocked by financial constraints, the team, skippered by Dhiren Gondaria, were on Monday, 22 September, handed an early reality check by hosts Zimbabwe in one of their two warm-up matches in Harare.
Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Kenya were restricted to 96 for eight before their bowling was exposed as the Chevrons chased the total in 12.2 overs, for just the fall of one wicket.
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺-𝘂𝗽
— Zimbabwe Cricket (@ZimCricketv) September 22, 2025
✅ Results
Kenya: 96/8 (20 overs)
Zimbabwe: 100/1 (12.2 overs)
Zimbabwe won by 9 wickets
📄 https://t.co/Bzgn1Nmxy9
Botswana: 150/4 (20 overs)
Malawi: 95/10 (19.3 overs)
Botswana won by 55 runs
📄 https://t.co/SGZPJveDxA#T20WorldCup #RoadTo2026 pic.twitter.com/w2AnDOx7OC
Slowly becoming Kenya’s Achilles heel, the top-order batting was obliterated once again, as opener Gondaria was struck out for a duck, while Sachin Bhudia and Pushkar Sharma were dismissed for 11 and 10 in quick succession.
Kenya’s highest run-scorer was former captain Rakep Patel with 24, and Angara will be scratching his head following the retirement of Sachin Gill due to an injury.
Amends in need for a morale-booster before the opener against world number 16 Namibia (1030 EAT) will be needed in bucketloads when Kenya faces beatable neighbours Tanzania in Wednesday’s final tune-up.
