England’s top female cricketer to visit Rwanda

ENGLISH top female cricketer Heather Knight is expected in Rwanda this Saturday for a two-day visit. Among other activities during her visit, she will hold coaching sessions for the women’s national team. According to Rwanda Cricket Association [RCA], the 23-year-old will run a session at IPRC Kicukiro, which will incorporate girls from the senior national team and the U-19 players, who featured in an ICC tournament in Tanzania recently. “Her visit is being supported by the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (RCSF), a charity aiming to build Rwanda’s first international cricket facility in Gahanga, Kicukiro District, Gahanga sector,” said RCA’s General Manager, Joshua Mwanja. Knight made her debut for England in 2010 against India and has since become a regular in both the Test and One-day international sides. An attacking opening batter, she was recently part of the two Ashes winning sides that recorded victories in England and Australia in 2013 and 2014. During the 2013 series, Knight scored a record-breaking 157 in the Test match and went on to score 140 runs in the limited overs matches. Her performances earned her a nomination for Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year award. Speaking about her trip to Kigali, Knight said, “I am hugely excited about the visit. I know that cricket is a rapidly developing sport in Rwanda and I am very keen to give something back to the girls out there and support the exciting work of the RCSF.” RCSF, in partnership with the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation and the Rwanda Cricket Association, is a charity set-up to build the first international standard cricket facility in the country.