By Desmond Tunde Coker
After months of skill-perfecting endeavours, the Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) has named 14 players ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier scheduled for September 30 through October 8, 2022, at the MKO Abiola Cricket Oval in Abuja, Nigeria.
Below is a list of those selected based on merit and those in reserve:
1. John Bangura- Captain
2. Eric Musa Turay-Vice Captain
3. Raymond Coker
4. George Sesay
5. Ibrahim Sesay
6. Alusine Turay
7. Eric Lassayo
8. Mohamed Lamin Kamara
9. James Bangura
10. Ibrahim Shiek Kamara
11. Tamba Lebbie
12. Mohamed Turay
13. Daniel Lassayo
14. Ibrahim Paul Kamara
Reserves
1. Ishamel Kargbo
2. Ibrahim Karim Kamara
According to SLCA Media Department, eight countries including Kenya, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, and Botswana will take part in this tournament. From this number, two finalists plus a third-place winner will join guys from Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda, who enter the qualification pathway at this stage, to compete at the Africa Division 1 Qualifier in 2023.
Sierra Leone’s opener in the Abuja endeavour will be against Botswana on Friday, September 30, 2022 on pitch 1. On Sunday, the boys will face Rwanda before meeting host Nigeria on Tuesday, October 4.
In December this year, the Sierra Leone Senior Cricket men’s side, the Patriots, will participate in the ICC Men’s T20i Africa Sub Regional B Qualifier in Kigali, Rwanda from November 29 to December 9, 2022.
SLCA Media Department has called on their partners and government to provide them with the necessary support to facilitate their participation in these competitions.