Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) has named a tentative 18-man team for this year’s International Cricket Council/Africa Cricket Association Affiliates tournament in Malawi.

RCA has opted to include more youngsters in the team after naming Jules Ishimwe, Audifax Byiringiro and Derrick Bayingana. The trio are fresh from the U-19 ICC World Cup qualifiers in Mozambique.

Should Rwanda compete, it will be her fourth appearance in the event. Rwanda made her debut back in 2004, finishing seventh out of eight teams.

In 2006, the team finished sixth before reaching the semi-finals last year where they lost to eventual tournament winners, Ghana.

Since 2004, the event has been biannual but according to the RCA chief, Charles Haba, the event has been made annual.

"ICC recently increased its funding for Affiliate countries so it also feels that there is need to have more tournaments at this level,” Haba noted.

Countries Rwanda will contend with include Malawi, Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Gambia and Mozambique among others. Just like in the past, the tournament winners will progress into the Associates Group.

Probable line up: Andre Kayitera, Srinath Vardhineni, Dennis Mukama, Julius Mbaraga, Rizwan  Pandor, Eric Dusingizimana, Evode Mutuyimana, Subashish Samal, Eric Dusabemungu, Romesh Thakkar, Jimmy Byawaka, Joseph Tuyishimire, Jules Ishimwe, Mehboob Jasat, Audifax Byiringiro, Derrick Bayingana, Mohammed Jasat, Eddie Balaba Mugarura.

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