13 Feb 2013

Blue Tree Tshukudu and Minjex Mokwepa are to meet in the finals of Thuntsha T20 League at the Botswana Cricket Oval in Gaborone on February 15 .

The final game would bring to an end the league which started on January 26, featuring four teams, Blue Tree Tshukudu, Minjex Mokwepa, Mall Motors Tau and UAE Exchange Nkwe.

Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) fixtures and publicity secretary, Sumod Damodar said the tournament was sponsored by four companies, which also had the naming rights for the teams that participated.

He said since the game were used as practice for the ICC Africa Division 1 T20 qualifiers billed for Uganda from  February 22 to 28. Senior national team players were distributed amongst the teams to create a competitive environment.

Furthermore, each team was required to have a minimum of four Batswana and two Under 19 players to ensure that the development of local cricket was an ongoing process.

A number of Batswana made an impressive run in the tournament with notable names such as national captain Karabo Modise, Mosa Mosweu, Mosa Gaolekwe and Segolame Ramatu.

The BCA started a cricket development programme in government schools in 2003, and Damodar said the exercise had paid dividends as a number of players were featured in the Under 16 and 17 national teams.

The national team meanwhile is scheduled to leave for Uganda on February 28 to participate in the ICC Africa Division 1 T20 qualifiers while the Under 19 national team is also to participate in the World Cup qualifying games later in the year. ENDS