Rwandan cricket has been guaranteed substantial support by CWB, a UK-based charity organization that helps in sensitizing children and adults about HIV/Aids through cricket. On Thursday, Rwanda Cricket Association, the local cricket governing body entered into a partnership with Cricket without Borders aimed at taking the relatively young but fast growing sport to a whole new level. After signing the deal, the RCA president Charles Haba said that Rwanda stands to benefit significantly from the partnership. “The partnership with CWB is an essential boost to our mission of taking cricket to a whole new level,” said Haba, who has been at the helm of the association since 2000. He also commended CWB for its concerted efforts in building the (gentleman)’s game from the grassroots through mini cricket. “They have played a big part already as far as popularizing the sport is concerned,” he added. The CWB team, who are on their second tour in the country after a successful first visit last year, will among other things offer cricket kit for both junior and senior players. According to the memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties, CWB would be making annual visits to the country to conduct further coaching and umpiring clinics, sessions with the different national team age groups, sessions with the girls’ national team and regular assessments about the progress of the sport. Rwanda is the first country that has signed a memorandum of understating with the charity organization. One of Rwanda’s immediate targets is to become an associate member of the ICC, the global cricket governing body. Presently, Rwanda is an ICC Affiliate member. Ends
