Rwanda women’s cricket team head coach Leornard Nhamburo has named a fifteen-woman squad for the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament scheduled for June 2-15, at Gahanga Cricket Stadium. Rwanda is among nine countries that confirmed their participation at the tournament which takes places annually in honour of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. While cricket was introduced in Rwanda in early 2000s just over half a decade after the genocide, the local cricket governing body believes the sport has the power and a role to play in uniting people while honouring members of the sport fraternity targeted and killed during the genocide. Holders and four-time winners Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Malawi and debutants Sierra Leone will travel to Kigali for the tournament. The Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) had initially announced that 11 countries would participate in the tournament but the number reduced to 9 after the likes of Malaysia, Nepal and United Arab Emirates failed to confirm Rwanda’s invitation in time. “In Asia, countries are playing the ICC Women's T20 World Cup qualifier, that’s why it wasn’t in their hands to join us for the tournament,” RCA General Manager Emmanuel Byiringiro told Times Sport. ALSO READ: Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament to attract more foreign countries Rwanda’s squad includes familiar faces like Henriette Ishimwe, skipper Dianne Bimenyimana and Belise Murekatete as well as new cricket rookies like Fanny Utagushimaninde and Rosette Shimwamana. There is, however, no place for Gisele Ishimwe who is currently playing for Odiham & Greywell CC in the Hampshire Women’s Div 1 in the United Kingdom. Kwibuka tournament has grown since its inaugural event in 2014, when only two countries, Rwanda and Uganda, participated. After over a decade, the tournament’s participation has expanded to South America and Europe with Brazil and Germany being the latest additions to the tournament. Byiringiro said that the tournament has risen on the continental level, despite not being considered on the International Cricket Council (ICC) calendar. “It has been an improving journey in the last 10 years hosting this tournament, whereby right now, we can use this as an opportunity to test our level of competence,” he said. Full squad: Diane Mary Bimenyimana, Merveille Uwase, Clarissa Umutoniwase, Shakira Niyomuhoza, Belize Murekatete, Alice Ikuzwe, Geovanis Uwase, Sarah Uwera, Rosine Irera, Rossette Shimwamana, Henriette Ishimwe, Georgette Ingabire and Fanny Utagushimaninde.
