Head Coach of Rwanda, Leonard Nhamburo has named a 16-woman squad that he will be taking in Nigeria ahead of the second edition of the Nigeria Women T20 Invitational Cricket Tournament scheduled to take place in Lagos from March 26 to April 3.

Rwanda won the maiden edition of the competition in 2022 when they defeated host nation Nigeria in the final by 52 runs and they will be looking to defend the tile with Nhamburo hoping to make history by winning the competition for the second time in a row.

The Zimbabwean gaffer is currently putting his girls through their paces since they joined a training camp on Saturday.

Musa Ehizoje, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Cricket Federation, says efforts are in place to ensure a successful tournament saying that they want to make the second edition better than the first one.

ALSO READ: Cricket: Rwanda to defend NCF T20 women's trophy in March

ALSO READ: Cricket: Bimenyimana delighted after Nigeria T20 triumph

”We are racing behind time to ensure that we deliver the best tournament for all cricket enthusiasts,” he told the Nigeria News Agency.

"The Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) cricket oval, the venue of the tournament, is being renovated to ensure the best quality of games.

"The pitch is in good shape, as well as the scoreboard, the sight screen, et cetera. The facilities are at the best level for competition,”

With March being the month in which women are being celebrated across the globe, Musa revealed that more females will be involved as officials for the tournament.

"We are going to have three female officials join the Playing Control Team (PCT) of six officials at the tournament."

"The previous editions had two female officials, but we have upgraded that number a bit and we are looking in the future where we can have all-female officials handle international engagements,” he added.

Rwanda are regarded as firm favorites to retain the tournament and are tipped to retain the title this year with almost all their players who played the 2022 edition still around.

Squad

Sarah Uwera

Clarisse Mutoniwase

Sifa Ingabire

Immaculate Muhawenimana

Alice Ikuzwe

Diane Marie Bimenyimana

Gisele Ishimwe

Merveille Uwase

Belise Murekatete

Margueritte Vumiliya

Josiane Nyirankundineza

Geovanis Uwase

Henriette Therese Ishimwe

Rosine Irera

Cynthia Tuyizere

Flora Irakoze