The Botswana national cricket squad, which is currently in Singapore for the International cricket club (ICC) world tournament, recently made a breakthrough when they won a match against Bahrain by 69 runs.
The success comes after a number of losses against Norway, Singapore and Malaysia.
Botswana is still the only African team representing the continent at this year’s tournament, which is considered a major achievement for African cricket.
The Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) just announced the commencement of the junior cricket league registered under its 2-year-long developmental programme for government aided primary schools.
According to Girish Ramakrishna, the mastermind behind the development programme idea and also the BCA treasurer, the tournament is exclusively for government primary schools under the programme and it will be for the Under 13 age group.
The Under 13 group was added to the programme only this year.
“We, as the BCA, are very pleased to inform the public of the upcoming league in our development programme; we have continued to improve the standards of cricket in government schools as we keep recruiting more and more schools. At the moment, we are accountable for well over 52 government schools with 3300 kids immersed into cricket since its establishment in February 2007,” said Ramakrishna.
The schools added to the cricket program are mostly from the outskirts of Gaborone and within.
This year a record number of 20 schools will be contesting in the league, which is a significant increase from the previous year where only 12 schools took part.
Last year, the league was won by Mojadife Primary School, who have been the defending champions ever since the inception of the league.
They will be battling to make it three times in a row.
The 20 schools that will be taking part in the league are: Rasesa Primary, Kgabo Sereto, Ramogotsi, Tlhaakgame, Oodi, Boikhutso, Modipane, Lady Matchison, Philip Moshotle, Tsogang, Solomon Dihutso, Bophirima, Mojadife, Ikageng, Botsalano, Notwane, Itumeleng, Tsholofelo, Boitumelo and Ledumang.
Ramakrishna lamented that the league, which is expected to kick off on the 23rd, will no doubt be dominated by the attractive prizes to be handed out by the BCA.
“We have the man of the match for each game. In the semi finals and finals we will have prizes for the best batsman, best fielder and best bowler too. There will also be a prize for the Player of the Tournament and school with the best team spirit. There will be a trophy for the winners and for the runners up too,” said Ramakrishna.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has earmarked the 8th to the 14th of September as African Cricket Week as.
