The Eswatini Tri Series 2026 features three African cricket nations: Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique. Specifically, hosts Eswatini will battle the visiting sides at the Malkerns Country Club Oval in Manzini from 2 to 8 June 2026, with the top two finishers meeting in the final.
Notably, the tournament is officially branded the ECA Ubuntu Tri-Nation Cup and carries ICC T20I ranking points. Furthermore, below is the full team-by-team breakdown, including captains, confirmed squads and what each side brings into the contest.
Eswatini Tri Series 2026 Teams At A Glance
First of all, here is a quick snapshot of the three competing nations, their captains and current ICC T20I rankings before the series gets underway.
| Teams | Captains | ICC T20I Ranking | Role in Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | Melusi Magagula | 72nd | Host nation |
| Lesotho | Maaz Khan | 92nd | Visiting side |
| Mozambique | Filipe Cossa | 71st | Visiting side |
Notably, Mozambique enters as the highest-ranked side, while Lesotho sits the lowest on the ICC ladder. Rankings, however, often mean little in associate cricket.
Eswatini Cricket Team Squad
First of all, Eswatini arrive as the host nation, led by experienced all-rounder Melusi Magagula, who has captained the side since its T20I debut against Lesotho in October 2021. In total, the team has played 41 T20Is, with four of those coming in 2026 ahead of this series.
Specifically, their last assignment was a T20I against Ghana at Achimota Oval B in Accra on 28 March 2026, which gave the squad recent international match practice.
Eswatini Captain and Core Players
Moreover, the spine of the side leans on a small group of experienced names. Melusi Magagula (captain, all-rounder) sets the tone. Haris Rashid is the lead batter and was the top run-scorer in the 2022 home series. Mancoba Jele leads the seam attack as a frontline bowler. Behind the stumps, Hujeifa Jangariya offers a reliable wicketkeeper option.
Eswatini Recent T20I Squad Members
Specifically, the names below come from Eswatini’s most recent home T20I series (vs Mozambique, September 2025), which forms the regular pool feeding the 2026 squad. Of course, final squad confirmation rests with the Eswatini Cricket Association.
Notably, the squad shapes up like this: captain Melusi Magagula (all-rounder); batter Kamrul Hasan; all-rounders Haris Rashid, Adil Butt, Minhaz Khojbariya; bowlers Mancoba Jele, Siphesihle Kubheka, Umair Qasim, Mohemmed Alamgir; and wicketkeepers Hujeifa Jangariya, Rohan Sandeep.
Lesotho Cricket Team Squad
Meanwhile, Lesotho travel to Eswatini under the captaincy of Maaz Khan, with head coach Alex Maviko guiding the unit. The Mountain Kingdom side has played 28 T20Is in total, with five outings in 2026 already, including a March bilateral series against Botswana.
Importantly, this tournament forms part of Lesotho’s preparation for upcoming Africa regional qualifiers. Additionally, the senior side last took the field on 15 March 2026 against Botswana at the Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 in Gaborone.
Lesotho Full Squad for the 2026 Tri Series
Furthermore, here is the complete 14-player Lesotho squad confirmed for the Ubuntu Tri-Nation Cup. The list was officially shared by the Eswatini Cricket Association ahead of the tournament.
Maaz Khan (captain), Thamae Thamae, Yunus Jakda, Mpiti Lerotholi, Lufulere Monanthane, Tanki Khetsi, Bahlakoana Mejaro, Khauta Malei, Lebona Leokaoeke, Tsepiso Chaoana, Chachole Tlali, Shekoe Makalo, Jabulani Matjatje and Mthimkhulu Leporoporo.
Lesotho Players to Watch
Above all, three names will shape Lesotho’s chances. Maaz Khan, the captain and senior all-rounder, sits at the centre of both batting depth and bowling rotation. Mpiti Lerotholi is an experienced campaigner with multiple T20I appearances since the side’s debut in 2021. Additionally, Yunus Jakda remains a regular top-order presence in the Lesotho line-up.
Mozambique Cricket Team Squad
Notably, Mozambique come into this tournament as the highest-ranked side (71st on the ICC T20I rankings). They are led by Filipe Cossa, a top-order batter who has anchored the team across more than four years of T20 internationals.
Moreover, Mozambique have already faced Eswatini in two bilateral series, sweeping the 2022 contest 6-0 at the same venue. What’s more, their last T20I was against Eswatini at the Malkerns Country Club Oval on 14 September 2025, taking their total T20I tally to 43 matches.
Mozambique Recent T20I Squad Members
In addition, the players below have featured most regularly for Mozambique in their recent T20I outings. Of course, the final 2026 Tri Series squad will be confirmed by the Mozambican Cricket Association closer to the opening match.
Specifically, the Mozambique unit lines up with captain Filipe Cossa (batter); batters Agostinho Navicha, Lourenco Salomone, Jose Joao, Luis Mavume; all-rounders Joao Hou, Vieira Tembo; bowlers Manussur Algi, Camate Roposo, Emerson Ndzeute; and wicketkeepers Bernardo Sambo, Mario Manjate.
Mozambique Players to Watch
Importantly, three Mozambique players stand out. Filipe Cossa scored 68 off just 29 balls against Eswatini in 2022, and the captain remains the side’s most explosive batter. Furthermore, Joao Hou took 4/11 against Eswatini in 2022 and is the team’s most successful bowler in head-to-head meetings. Besides that, Agostinho Navicha captained Mozambique in the September 2025 series and provides senior leadership depth.
Series Format And Schedule Overview
Additionally, the tournament follows a triple round-robin format. Specifically, each side plays every other team three times across the group stage. Consequently, the top two finishers then meet in the final on 8 June 2026.
As a result, the tournament also marks the first-ever T20I meeting between Lesotho and Mozambique, which adds a fresh storyline beyond the host vs visitor narrative. Moreover, all matches will be played at the Malkerns Country Club Oval in Manzini and carry full ICC T20I ranking points.
Suggested Reads:
Final Word: 3 Teams Looking Forward For Tri-Series Battle
Above all, the Eswatini Tri Series 2026 is a meaningful step for associate cricket in Southern Africa.
Specifically, hosts Eswatini will lean on the experience of Melusi Magagula and Haris Rashid; Mozambique arrive as ranking favourites under Filipe Cossa; and Lesotho, led by Maaz Khan, look to build form ahead of regional qualifiers.
Therefore, with ICC ranking points on the line and a final to chase, every match at Malkerns matters.
