Rwanda national cricket team has stepped up preparations ahead of the ICC division two men’s cricket tournament, which will kick off on April 15-20 in South Africa.

The team comprises players from the nine cricket clubs in the country where 14 players will be selected to represent the country in the tournament.

Rwanda has been an active member since 2004 and was promoted to the Second division after winning the tournament in Accra- Ghana.

Rwanda got into second division in 2011 after winning ICC Division 3 tournament which was held in Accra-Ghana.

The tournament takes place every two years and in the last edition, Rwanda finished in the third position behind Swaziland and Sierra Leone.

Head coach Davis Turinawe started the training without Don Dieu Mugisha and Eric Hirwa who both sustained injuries during the Naid V.R T20 cricket tourney at Kicukiro grounds two weeks ago.

Speaking to Times Sports the national cricket head coach said the team is doing serious training and the players are well informed about the tight competition back in South Africa.

"We are in advanced stages of our thorough training to ensure that all players are fit and ready to take part in this highly competitive tournament,” he said.

Rwanda are with Sierra Leone and Mozambique in the same group where the winner will qualify for the first division, the one week tournament will run from 15th to 20th April in South Africa.

17 players are already in the camp for the preparations. They include Fiston Nsengimana, Eric Hirwa, Eric Dusingizimana, Rorckide Tuyisenge, Evode Mutuyimana, Eric Niyomugabo, Gobi Sruthin, Freddy Ndayisenga, Bob Bashil Songa, Zoppy Bimenyimana, Samal Subashish, Derick Bayingana, Clinton Innocent Rubagumya, Don Dieu Mugisha, Charles Karasira, Shiva Samba,Ivan Mitali and Eric Ndangamyambi.

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