The U-19 national women’s cricket team is going through intensive training as they prepare for the forthcoming ICC U19 Womens T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier slated in Botswana from September 1. Head coach Leonard Nhamburo has been putting his female cricket starlets through their paces over the past few days before he decides his final 14-player squad traveling to Botswana for event. A 20-player provisional squad has been on a two-week training camp and have been training at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium on daily basis. The squad features some senior national team players like fast-rising cricket prodigy Henriette Ishimwe, Gisele Ishimwe and Belyse Murekatete with the trio expected to add some experience to Nhamburo’s young side after their impressive display during the Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament. Nhamburo puts his side through their paces during a recent training session. Courtesy The coach was made to wait for some players to finish end-of-year examinations to join the squad because a number of them are high school students. The team has had busy training sessions since the rest of the players began their holidays with rest of the squad in the camp. The team will later be reduced to 14 that will represent Rwanda in the Africa qualifiers. The ICC U19 Womens T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier will bring together nine countries including hosts Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda. The team that will finish at the summit of the qualifiers will book a ticket to represent Africa in the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 which will take place in South Africa in January next year. The tournament will bring together 16 teams representing different continents, and 14 of them have already secured their tickets. They include hosts South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, USA, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Indonesia and United Arab Emirates. Besides a spot which is up for grabs from the Africa Qualifier, the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier between either Holland and Scotland will produce a team that will represent Europe in South Africa. Provisional squad: Gisele Ishimwe, Merveille Uwase, Belyse Murekatete, Sylvia Usabyimana, Henriette Isimbi, Jehovanus Uwase, Cesarie Muragijimana, Cynthia Tuyizere, Divine Igihozo, Henriette Ishimwe, Aline Uwitonze, Cynthia Uwera, Rosine Irera, Maie Josee Tumukunde, Janet Mukandayisenga, Zuluphati, Doriane Nakuzwe, Leodia Teta, Nadie Nzayituriki and Pascaline Ishimwe.
