Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Advanced Players League begins today with Twiga Titans locking horns with Tembo Stars at Dar Gymkhana oval in Dar es Salaam.
The tournament features six combined teams that battle it out in an exciting T-20 format—all games taking action at Gymkhana oval.
Also, the T-20 tournament to be played in a league format is scheduled to climax on September 5th this year.
The six combined teams involved are Buffalo Blasters, Chui Challengers, Simba Kings, Tembo Stars, Royal Rhinos, and the reigning champions, Twiga Titans.
After the opening game, Royal Rhinos will enter the oval to face Buffalo Blasters.
Tomorrow, cricket fans will witness three thrilling games. The first will be between Tembo Stars and Simba Kings; then Buffalo Blasters will face Chui Challengers,while tomorrow’s last encounter will be between Twiga Titans and Royal Rhino.
The tournament expects to be more exciting than that of the last year, with players projected to offer the best entertaining performance.
The Tanzania Cricket Association Vice-Chairman Shaheed Dhanani is among the many cricket lovers who wait for the tournament’s shootout as he believes they have attained quality from the Head Coach training.
TCA has acknowledged that they are ready to offer classy entertainment after witnessing more sponsors running it, prepared to make all players enjoy the league’s rhythm.
Among the companies that have committed to back the league are Reliance Insurance, Azania Bank, Pepsi, G1 Security Limited, Harab Motors, General Petroleum, Hitech Sai, Sterling and Crystal Management & Maintenance Services.
It has indeed been a blessing for Tanzania Cricket Association to have a big number of sponsors in a single tournament.
TCA has as well identified the six combined squads are: Twiga Titans squad includes their captain Abhik Patwa, whose teammates include Issa Safari, Salum Jumbe, John Maethya, Acrey Pascal, Jumanne Masquater.
Athumani Siwa, Nassoro Zahoro, Baraka Robert, Raza Baloch, Basit Raza, Rijali Fentu, Ejaz Aziz, Salmini Yusuph and Gokul Das.
The Tembo Stars squad will parade Riziki Kiseto as the team captain, while his team mates are Mohamed Omary, Harsheed Chohan, Nisar Ahmed, Alhaj Sadick, Pafrod Anacet.
Ankit Baghel, Prem Thakkar, Ayaz Mustafa, Sadiki Iddi, Dhrumit Mehta, Sefu Khalifa, Dhyey Shah, Tambwe Rashidi and Firoz Hatim Dahodwal.
Royal Rhinos squad will be under captain Arshaan Jasani and his team mates are Ally Mpeka, Kelvin Anjelo, Kibwana Salum, Aahil Jasani
Kishwabi Ngozi, Abubakar Selemani, Nandakishan Pottachira, Gulraiz Haideri, Nasibu Kelvin Mapunda, Jaffary Kanyita, Sefu Athuman, Jay Hirwania, Zamoyoni Ramadhani and Kartik Syal.
Buffalo Blasters will be under Captain Kassimu Nassoro, and his players are Lazaro Festo, Jitin Pratap Singh,Mukul Kumar, Abdulrahman Akida, Sanjay Bom, Dinesh Rabadiya.
Suraj Kumar, Gerald Dzunguza, Vaibhav Bhatia, Goodluck Andrew, Wilbert Martin, Issa Kikasi, Yash Hirwania and Laksh Snehal.
Chui Challengers players are Zafar Khan, a captain, and other teammates are Ashish Kamania, Mohammad Ali, Mohammed Yunus, Abdullah Jabiri, Ramesh Alluri, Arsalaan Premji Sheraz Khan, Augustine Mwamele.
Suraj Pala, Imtiyaz Yusuf, Vipin Abraham, Karimu Athumani, Wahid Hussain and Kishen Kamania.
Simba Kings will roar up with their skipper Jatin Darji; his teammates include Bhavesh Govind, Vishal Patel, Ivan Ismail, Abbas Adamji, Johnson Nyambo, Abhishek Rathod, Karim Rashidi Kiseto, Adnan Zariwala,Kheel Suchak, Ally Hafidh, Safvan Annarathodika, Amiri Sadiki, Vikram Rathore and Athumani Kakonzi.
