Rwanda’s opening batter Orchide Tuyisenge and all-rounder Martin Akayezu have embarked on professional cricket careers after the duo completed their move to Zimbabwean national premier league side Takashinga Patriote Cricket Club.

The duo departed Kigali on Saturday after the deal to play for the club was finalized recently.

Regarded among top figures in the senior national Cricket team, Tuyisenge and Akayezu were on the club’s scouting radar during the past few months until they agreed to join the Zimbabwean side, becoming Rwanda’s first cricket exports to any professional cricket league.

Emmanuel Byiringiro, the General Manager of Rwanda Cricket Association told Times Sport that the two players’ move could pave the way for more local cricketers to play outside the country on a professional level.

"It’s good news for us and everyone who plays cricket. We hope this new development could open doors to more local players to play at professional leagues. And the more they join professional cricket teams, the better the national team performs at international competitions,” Byiringiro said in an interview.

"We have more players, men and women, being scouted and we hope to see them going for new challenges outside the country as well,” he added.

Tuyisenge’s record performance came when his century of runs helped Rwanda beat Seychelles by 78 runs during the ICC Men’s T20 Sub Regional Group A World Cup Qualifiers held in Kigali in October last year.