Tanzania cricketers share a light moment during a training session at the University of Dar es Salaam last week. The team is gearing up for the ICC Women T20 Africa U-19 Championship, which starts tomorrow. photo | file
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“We have finalised all the arrangements for hosting the event in a befitting manner,” the TCA official, Kazim Nasser, said yesterday.
Dar es Salaam. Cricket fever is mounting high among fans as four more foreign teams are due in the country for the ICC Women T20 Africa U-19 Championship.
Mozambique, Kenya and Uganda national women’s cricket teams are expected in the country today for the two-day tournament roaring into life tomorrow at three venues in the city. Teams that are expected to battle it out for top honours in the continental championship started arriving in the country on Wednesday with Botswana being the first team to fly into Dar es Salaam.
The Botswana team was accorded warm welcome on their arrival at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport by TCA officials.
Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) has already unveiled a-14 member squad for the continental event, which will feature nine African countries. The matches will be played at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club, Leaders Club and University of Dar es Salaam grounds. The Tanzanian girls will launch their ICC T20 Africa U-19 campaign tomorrow against Botswana at Leaders Club course before confronting Mozambique.
“We have finalised all the arrangements for hosting the event in a befitting manner,” the TCA official, Kazim Nasser, said yesterday.
“This event will further promote cricket in the country besides portraying a soft image of Tanzania as an ideal and safe venue for staging international cricket competitions.”
“The matches will be of 20-overs-a-side and we anticipate good crowds at all the venues. Two matches will be played daily,” he added. On players making up the Tanzania team for the championship, Nasser said: “We arranged country-wide trials and the best available talent was picked to gel it with experience. “We are fully confident that our team is going to produce an impressive show to live up to the expectations.”
The final squad named by head coach Khalil Rehemtulla yesterday comprises team captain Esther Wales, Asha Ibrahim, Kandila Laurent, Ummy Heri and Aisha Mohammed.
Unveiling the squad, Rehemtulla said his team has all it takes to make a mark in the eagerly awaited tournament.
“It is a historic moment for Tanzania cricket that the ICC Women T20 Africa U-19 tournament will be played here and we anticipate thrilling matches. For the past two months, the team has been undergoing training at Muhimbili Cricket Academy for the event.
Most of the players were drawn from primary and secondary schools through the association’s ongoing Development Programme. According to the fixture released by TCA earlier this week, Rwanda and Uganda will face-off tomorrow at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club. The day will also see Kenya confront Uganda later in the day at the same venue.
Botswana will also play Mozambique at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) ground that will also host the local ladies’ opening matches. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are also expected to compete in the event.
