Cricketers upbeat ahead of ICC tourney

THE senior national cricket team left for Ghana full of confidence ahead of the ICC Africa Division 3 T20 tournament in Accra.Rwanda, who have been widely dubbed pre-tournament favourites, are drawn in Group A alongside Lesotho, Seychelles and Cameroon. Group B pits Morocco against Gambia, Mali and St. Helena.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Team manager Eddie Mugarura Balaba

THE senior national cricket team left for Ghana full of confidence ahead of the ICC Africa Division 3 T20 tournament in Accra.

Rwanda, who have been widely dubbed pre-tournament favourites, are drawn in Group A alongside Lesotho, Seychelles and Cameroon. Group B pits Morocco against Gambia, Mali and St. Helena.

Team manager Eddie Mugarura Balaba expects a top notch performance despite a few injury cases.

"One of our key players Andre Kayitera is nursing a knee injury but that should not deter us from winning the competition,” he said.

"The team has prepared well for the tournament. We want to focus on doing the basics right and taking it one game at a time because a results-driven approach will trip us up and that’s something we don’t need.”

At the end of the five-day tournament, the winner will qualify for Africa’s T20 Division 2 tournament slated for April in Benoni, South Africa.

National team:  Eric Dusingizimana (Captain), Srinath Vardhineni (Vice Captain), Dennis Mukama, Andre Kayitera, Eric Hirwa Dusabemungu, Audifax Byiringiro, Derrick Bayingana, Sayram Gopalan, Evode Mutuyimana, Don De Dieu Mugisha, Christian Mwijanda, Desire Manirambona, Eugene Haragirimana, Subhasis Samal.
Adam Arnold (Coach), Eddie Balaba (Team Manager)

Rwanda– Group A match schedule
February 24-
Rwanda vs Lesotho
February 25-
Rwanda vs Seychelles
February 26-
Rwanda vs Cameroon