The national senior cricket team has even more reason to raise their fitness levels following the official release of the schedule for this year’s ICC Africa World Cricket League Division 3 tournament slated for October 2-7 in Malawi.

According to the schedule, Rwanda like all the other teams will have no breather from October 3 when they play their first game (against Gambia) to 7th when they play their final fixture (against Sierra Leone).

Besides Rwanda, five other teams will be in contention; Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Gambia, Morocco and hosts Malawi.

Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA)’s administrative officer Robert Mugisha has called upon national team players to up their training.

"This year, it’s a bit different because the team will have no rest day. It is a tight schedule which calls for good preparation on the part of the national team,” he said.

After the tournament, the top two teams will qualify for the 2010 ICC Africa WCL Division 2 tournament in Benoni, South Africa.

The winner in this category will go on to play in the 2010 ICC Global Div 8 tournament whose venue is yet to be confirmed.

This year, Rwanda is looking to better last year’s performance where they finished fourth after being knocked out of the semi-finals by eventual champions Ghana.

Rwanda has been on a progressive curve since 2004 when she made her debut in the ICC affiliates tournament.

In 2004, Rwanda finished 7th but improved to 6th in 2006. Last year, Rwanda broke into the top four for the first time.

2009 WCL Div 3 (Malawi)
Rwanda’s schedule

3 October 
Rwanda      v   Gambia
 
4 October 
Rwanda      v   Malawi
 
5 October 
Morocco     v   Rwanda

6 October
Lesotho     v   Rwanda
 
7 October
Sierra Leone v  Rwanda

Ends