Photo Credit: Rwanda Cricket
Experienced Tournaments Director at the International Cricket Council (ICC), Kuben Pillay, has lauded Rwanda’s progress as the country continues to host international tournaments.
Days after consulting representatives from member countries, including Rwanda, participating countries and the ICC Global Pathways Events Manager, the International Cricket Council in July confirmed Rwanda as hosts for four of the five Africa regional qualifying competitions.Besides the U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifiers, which got underway in Kigali on Thursday, September 30, Rwanda was also handed the hosting rights for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers (November 15-21), the ICC Men’s T20 Sub Regional World Cup Qualifiers Group A (October 14-23) and the ICC Men’s T20 Sub Regional World Cup Qualifiers Group B, scheduled from October 31 to November 8.
Pillay, who is in Rwanda as the tournament director of the 2022 ICC U-19 World Cup qualifiers, told Weekend Sport that giving Rwanda the right to host four events didn’t come by accident but on merit, based on how the country has fared in organising international cricket tournaments in recent years.
“The first tournament that we had in Rwanda was the T20 Qualifiers East Region in 2018 and that was a really successful tournament for us,” said Pillay, noting that “It cemented the country’s capabilities to host events of that magnitude.
Photo Credit: Twitter photo of @rwandacricket
“The success of that tournament, the annual Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament and, overall, the Covid-19 protocols that were put in place gave us all the confidence to bring these tournaments here,” he added.
Since he arrived in Rwanda earlier this week to follow the 2022 ICC U-19 men’s qualifiers, Pillay says he was impressed by the preparations prior to Thursday’s kick off.
“I have been impressed with the work done by the local organising committee and the board. Every team member has put in effort to get the tournament up and running,” he said.
This year’s Africa qualifiers has attracted five countries namely; Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Namibia and hosts Rwanda. The top team will automatically secure a ticket to the 2022 ICC U-19 World Cup in the West Indies.
It will be the fourteenth edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, and the first to be held in the West Indies.
The showpiece will confirm the country to snatch the last available ticket for the 16-team World Cup.
Name of Author: Rwanda Cricket Association
The Rwanda Cricket Association is the governing body for cricket in Rwanda, headquartered in Kicukiro district, Kigali. An associate member of the International Cricket Council since 2003, it also belongs to the African Cricket Association.
