A host of countries have confirmed participation in the 2022 Kwibuka Women T20 competition due June 9-18 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Zimbabwe, Uganda and first-timers Brazil and Germany have so far drawn plans to get involved in the showpiece hosted by Rwanda.

It has been held since 2014 and is the flagship event of the women’s cricket calendar in Rwanda.

Through it, the cricket community contributes to the country’s healing process following the atrocities committed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Rwanda has never won the tournament despite playing from home since its inception in 2014, with reigning champions Kenya the tournament’s most decorated team, a record 4 times.

The Uganda National Women’s Cricket team will play at a later date than earlier communicated after the Capricorn Women’s Tri-series schedule was revised.

According to All Over Cricket, there was a “tiny travel delay for Uganda” therefore the schedules revised with Uganda having at least a game from 21st up to 25th.

Initially, the schedule had Uganda playing on 20th against Zimbabwe but the game was moved to 21st.

This will be the second engagement for the Victoria Pearls after finishing 4th in Botswana at the 2021 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers.

Uganda’s Fixtures

21st April – Namibia vs Uganda – 10:30 am (EAT)

21st April – Uganda vs Zimbabwe – 3:30 pm (EAT)

22nd April – Zimbabwe vs Uganda – 3:30 pm (EAT)

23rd April – Namibia vs Uganda – 3:30 pm (EAT)

24 April – Zimbabwe vs Uganda – 10:30 am (EAT)

25 April – Namibia vs Uganda – 3:30 pm (EAT)

26th April – FINAL – 3:00 pm (EAT).

The Lady Chevrons have arrived in Windhoek, Namibia ahead of the Capricorn Women’s Tri series set to get underway on 20th April 2022.

The team travelled with debutants Michelle Mavunga and Kellis Ndlovu who excelled in recent domestic competitions.

According to the official account of Women’s Cricket in Zimbabwe, “Mavunga was Bowler of tournament while Ndlovu was Player & Batter of tournament in Womens T20 Cup.”

There was also confirmation of the team’s arrival through a statement; “🇿🇼 are now in Namibia ahead of the tri-Series with hosts and Uganda starting tomorrow.”

🇿🇼 are now in Namibia ahead of the tri-Series with hosts and Uganda starting tomorrow. Debut trip for the youngest players in the team, teenagers Michelle Mavunga and Kellis Ndlovu. Mavunga was Bowler of tournament while Ndlovu was Player & Batter of tournament in Womens T20 Cup. pic.twitter.com/2yFQpu5Pm6
— Zimbabwe Cricket – Women (@zimbabwewomen) April 19, 2022

Uganda will play it’s first game against Namibia and then Zimbabwe on 21st April before following with Zimbabwe again on 22nd.

The Uganda National Cricket Women’s team – Victoria Pearls arrived in Namibia on Monday ahead of the tri-nations series to take place between from the 20^th – 26^th of April at CCD field.

The team arrived in the afternoon on Monday in Windhoek after setting off from Entebbe International Airport at 2:00am aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

The outift is currently settled at Hotel Safari and Safari Court Hotel in the heart of Namibia’s capital Windhoek as they refresh to be ready for action.

This will be the second engagement for the team after finishing 4th in Botswana at the 2021 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers.

The side has six new players who will be getting their first taste of international cricket and these are Leona Babirye, Shakirah Sadick, Susan Kakai, Phiona Kulume, Sarah Akiteng, and rising teenager Jimia Mohammad.

The Victoria Pearls touched down in Windhoek Namibia for the Tri-Series aganist Lady Chevrons of @zimbabwewomen and the Capricorn Eagles of @CricketNamibia1. The action starts on Wednesday and live on the @WomensCricZone YouTube channel. #WeAreVictoriaPearls pic.twitter.com/Wz3km57n78
— Uganda Cricket Association (@CricketUganda) April 18, 2022

Players: 1. Consy Nimungu Aweko (Captain), 2. Janet Mbabazi (Vice-Captain), 3. Kevin Awino, 4. Rita Musamali, 5. Patricia Malemikia, 6. Phiona Egaru Kulume, 7. Sarah Akiteng, 8. Susan Kakai, 9. Rita Elizabeth Nyagendo, 10. Naome Bagenda Kayondo, 11. Leona Mirembe Babirye, 12. Evelyn Anyipo, 13. Shakirah Sadick, 14. Jimia Abdallah Mohammed.

Officials: 1. Laurence Ssematimba (Head Coach), 2. Lawrence Ssempijja (Assistant Coach), 3. Edgar Kazibwe (Team Psychologist), 4. Imam Tugume (Team Physiotherapist), 5. Rita Tinka (Team Manager)

Uganda National Women’s Cricket Team, the Victoria Pearls, were on Thursday flagged off to Namibia where they will take part in a T20i Tri-Series.

The three-nation tournament has Namibia and Zimbabwe and will be played from 19th to 26th April in Windhoek, Namibia.

It’s the first time the Victoria Pearls will be in action since September last year when they finished fourth at the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Botswana.

Rita Nyagendo returns to the national team after nearly a decade away while Consy Aweko replaces Immaculate Nakisuyi as the captain of the side.

Lawrence Ssematimba is the new coach and replaces Suraj Karavadra who was sacked after the T20 World Cup Qualifiers.

Officials: 1. Laurence Ssematimba (Head Coach), 2. Lawrence Ssempijja (Assistant Coach), 3. Edgar Kazibwe (Team Psychologist), 4. Imam Tugume (Team Physiotherapist), 5. Rita Tinka (Team Manager)

Uganda’s Fixtures

20th April: vs. Zimbabwe (Morning)
21st April: vs. Namibia (Morning), vs. Zimbabwe (Afternoon)
23rd April: vs. Namibia (Afternoon)
24th April: vs. Zimbabwe (Morning)
25th April: vs. Namibia (Afternoon)
26th April: Finals (TBD) (Afternoon)

Cricket Cranes levelled the 50-over series against Namibia with a nervy three-wicket win on Wednesday.

With head coach Lawrence Mahatlane choosing to rest Frank Nsubuga, Frank Akankwasa, Deus Muhumuza, and skipper Brian Masaba, Kenneth Waiswa took on the captaincy role. He won the toss and tasked the Eagles to bat first.

The Cricket Cranes bowled quite well despite Namibia pilling up a competitive 265/6 in their 50 over with Craig Williams (90), Karl Birkenstock (73), and Lo-handre Louwrens (44) the top contributors.

Uganda’s chase was well-timed as Simon Ssesazi (82) and Emmanuel Hasahya (19) put on a 66-run opening stand. Despite Hasanya falling early, Ssesazi continued with the onslaught.

A couple of wickets in the middle slowed down the chase but the combination of Riazat Ali Shah (43) and Dinesh Nakrani (45) put Cricket Cranes on track for victory.

Despite Nakrani falling, Ali Shah stayed on until the end and clinched the game with a maximum with three balls to spare.

Having folded for just 68 a day early, the Cricket Cranes showed great improvement and mental toughness.

Ssesazi was named player of the game.

The International Cricket Council Board has confirmed that South Africa will host the inaugural ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in January next year.

The 16-team tournament was originally scheduled to take place in 2021, but the Covid pandemic forced it to be postponed.

The 41-match event will be a curtain raiser ahead of the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup that commences in South Africa on February 9.

South Africa will now host two ICC events in the space of two months and Uganda will most likely prepare a team to bid for a spot at the event.

Uganda Cricket Association CEO Martin Ondeko feels excited at the fact that the Victoria Pearls will feature in the Capricorn Women’s Tri-Series from the 20^th – 26^th of April at CCD field in Windhoek.

This will be the second engagement for the team after finishing 4th in Botswana at the 2021 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifiers.

Martin hopes the Victoria Pearls can improve its ranking in the Women’s T20Is from the current 19th position.

“Uganda Cricket Association is excited about the opportunity to play in the Tri-Series in Namibia from 20th to 26th April 2022,” he told Cricket Namibia website.

“Uganda goes into the tournament hoping to improve its ranking in the Women’s T20Is from the current 19th position.

“As we prepare for the Women’s World T20 Qualifiers next year, the tournament provides a good platform for Uganda to gauge its progress after more than 6 months without any International Cricket.

“We would like to thank Cricket Namibia for giving us this opportunity and wish them all the best in the preparations.”

Fixtures

Capricorn Women’s Tri Series: Eagles vs Zimbabwe and Uganda
Date	Day	Time		Time
19-Apr-22	Tuesday		Teams arrive

20-Apr-22	Wednesday	09h30	Match 1: Zimbabwe vs Uganda	14h30	Match 2: Eagles vs Zimbabwe

21-Apr-22	Thursday	09h30	Match 3 :Eagles vs Uganda	14h30	Match 4: Uganda vs Zimbabwe

22-Apr-22	Friday

23-Apr-22	Saturday	09h30	Match 6: Eagles vs Zimbabwe	14h30	Match 5: Eagles vs Uganda

24-Apr-22	Sunday	09h30	Match 7: Zimbabwe vs Uganda	14h30	Match 8: Eagles vs Zimbabwe

25-Apr-22	Monday			14h30	Match 9: Eagles vs Uganda
26-Apr	Tuesday			14h00	Match 10 Final: TBC
27-Apr	Wednesday		Teams Depart

Namibia Cricket has revealed their preparedness to host Uganda and Zimbabwe for the 2022 Capricorn Women’s Tri-Series.

The invitational tournament will start from the 20^th – 26^th of April at CCD field in Windhoek and will consist of a triple round-robin stage followed by a final between the top two teams.

According to Namibia Cricket, the tri series are “aimed to improve the Capricorn Eagles ICC T20 world rankings” and “preparation for the tournament has been good so far.”

They started out with a squad of 24 players that have played seven T20 matches to form part of the selection process for the final 14.

Cricket Namibia CEO Johan Muller says; “What a privilege to host the first Women’s Tri-Series in Namibia. I want to thank Capricorn for their continuous support towards our female cricket programs.

“Capricorn is not only the naming partner to our Capricorn Eagles, but also the naming partner to this Capricorn Women’s Tri-Series.”

Fixtures

Capricorn Women’s Tri Series: Eagles vs Zimbabwe and Uganda
Date	Day	Time		Time
19-Apr-22	Tuesday		Teams arrive

20-Apr-22	Wednesday	09h30	Match 1: Zimbabwe vs Uganda	14h30	Match 2: Eagles vs Zimbabwe

21-Apr-22	Thursday	09h30	Match 3 :Eagles vs Uganda	14h30	Match 4: Uganda vs Zimbabwe

22-Apr-22	Friday

23-Apr-22	Saturday	09h30	Match 6: Eagles vs Zimbabwe	14h30	Match 5: Eagles vs Uganda

24-Apr-22	Sunday	09h30	Match 7: Zimbabwe vs Uganda	14h30	Match 8: Eagles vs Zimbabwe

25-Apr-22	Monday			14h30	Match 9: Eagles vs Uganda
26-Apr	Tuesday			14h00	Match 10 Final: TBC
27-Apr	Wednesday		Teams Depart

Cricket Cranes coach Lawrence Mahatlane is pleased with the effort of his players during the T20 Series against Namibia.

Uganda won one and lost two of the three matches and Mahatlane believes there has been a massive leap since last year when they lost all the games to the Eagles.

He says the intention was to test the players and get them the much-needed experience.

Simon Ssesazi stood out with the bat knocking two half-centuries on Friday and Sunday while Riazat Ali Shah (57) and Dinesh Nakrani (77) were terrific as batted Uganda to victory on Saturday.

“This was about testing our players against the best, I think the boys showed that they improved a lot and gained a lot of experience. I am very proud of the way the boys played,” Mahatlane said.

“They have earned a lot of respect in terms of the way they played Cricket.

“Big players stood up for Namibia, JJ Smit was extra special today (Sunday). We know where to work on and I am excited with the way some of the players came through. Simon Ssesazi coming with two half tons against an international side is very good.”

Focus now switches to the two upcoming 50-over matches to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I am excited with where we are and hopefully the ODIs will show more growth. Hopefully, we show a lot of improvement than we did last year.”

Suggestions

Top athletes

Top stories