Cricketers depart for S. Africa

THE National cricket team flew out to South Africa this morning with hopes of performing well in the six-day ICC Africa Twenty20 Division 2 tournament which starts tomorrow. The 17-man contingent, that includes 14 players, team coach, team manager and an umpire, left aboard the 3am Kenya Airways flight. While team coach Davis Turinawe admits that it will be difficult to replicate their performance in the Div.3 tournament which was held in Ghana, team captain Eric Dusingizimana insists that the team is fired up for the grave task. “The opposition is much stronger than that of Ghana but we are not bothered. We promise to do our best,” the top order batsman said. Besides Rwanda, eight teams are in contention and they include pre-tournament favorites Tanzania, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, and Swaziland. The event is one of several regional qualifying events for next year’s T20 World Cup that will be hosted by Sri Lanka. The top two qualifiers will proceed to the ICC – Africa T20 division one tournament which is scheduled to be held in Entebbe, Uganda in mid July. 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, Bob Bashil Songa, Desire Manirambona, Eugene Haragirimana, Subhasis Samal. Davis Turinawe (Coach), Eddie Balaba (Team Manager), Emmanuel Byiringiro (Umpire). Ends

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Cricketers depart for S. Africa