New Delhi: Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus has raised concerns over the team’s preparation ahead of their T20 World Cup encounter against India, revealing that his side was not allotted a single night training session before their floodlit match.
Namibia are set to face India under lights on Thursday, but their build up has unfolded entirely during daytime hours. After playing a day fixture against the Netherlands earlier this week, their subsequent practice sessions were also conducted in daylight. In contrast, India reportedly trained twice in the evening to prepare for the conditions.
Erasmus admitted he was unsure why Namibia were not granted a similar opportunity. He pointed out that other teams, including Canada, were seen training under lights at the same venue. Canada, who are scheduled to play an afternoon fixture against the UAE, also had access to a night session.
The Namibia skipper highlighted the structural challenges his team faces back home, noting that the country lacks floodlit facilities for day night matches. As a result, many players have limited exposure to playing and training under artificial lights. He explained that only those who have participated in overseas leagues or previous global tournaments have had regular experience in such conditions.
Despite the setback, Erasmus maintained that his side would approach the contest with determination. Namibia began their campaign with a loss to the Netherlands and will next take on the United States and Pakistan in matches scheduled for afternoon starts.
The squad for the tournament includes Gerhard Erasmus as captain, alongside players such as Zane Green, Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Bernard Scholtz and Ruben Trumpelmann among others.
