25 May 2023

Botswana cricket teams face an uphill battle in their quest to inch closer to continental and world qualifications tournaments.

Speaking in an interview prior to  the senior men’s departure to South Africa this week, Vice Chairperson of Botswana Cricket Association (BCA), Mr Sumod Damodar said the team would be taking part in the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) Men’s T20 South and Central Region qualifiers in Benoni starting this coming weekend until June 1.

Mr Damodar, who is also ACA chairperson said the closely contested regional qualifiers would comprise Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and eSwatini with top two teams proceeding to the ACA cup later in the year after similar tournaments were held and completed elsewhere in the continent.

Nigeria and Uganda will host the North West and Eastern qualifiers respectively next month and in July.

Both regional meets will determine the final teams qualifying for the main event later this year.

Botswana were semifinalists at last year’s ACA cup hosted in Benoni and lost to Tanzania in the penultimate match.

The senior men’s team comprising of youthful talent from the Under19 squad travelled to South Africa and are expected to face a South African select side prior to their opening fixture against Mauritius on Sunday.

Botswana will face eSwatini on Monday, Malawi on Tuesday before taking a break and face Mozambique in their final match Thursday next week.

Botswana team is led by wicket keeper and Captain Karabo Motlhanka.

Some of the young players expected to make a mark at the qualifiers include Boteng Maphosa, Katlo Piet and Boemo Khumalo who made an impressive mark at the youth team.

The rest of the team include among others Mmoloki Mooketsi, Phemelo Silas and Vinoo Balakrishnana.

According to Damodar, immediately after the regional qualifier the senior men’s team will travel to Kenya for the six nations International League T20.

Botswana will join the hosts Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania for the tournament.

Meanwhile the senior women’s team is set to participate in Kigali at the Kwibuka T20 Women’s tournament in June.

Mr Damodar said the team was in full swing training and the final team would be announced soon.

He said the BCA had once again been awarded the hosting of the ICC Women’s T20 Africa Division 2 Qualifiers between August 31 and September 9.

He noted that this would be an eight team tournament comprising Kenya, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Mozambique, eSwatini, Malawi and Lesotho.

The top two teams at the end of the event would proceed to the ICC Africa Division 1 tournament to be hosted by Uganda Cricket Association later in the year. ENDS