AfricaPress-Tanzania:THE Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) is still waiting for communication from the International Cricket Association (ICC), regarding the fate of 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers.
The qualification event is scheduled to be staged in South Africa from April 25th to May 4th this year, but due to the current coronavirus outbreak the ICC is likely to announce postponement of the event.
The Africa Qualifier will have two sub-regional groups, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the Regional final. Kenya and Nigeria, the two highest ranked teams as of 1 January 2020, progressed directly to the Regional final.
Group A of the Africa Qualifier tournament is scheduled to take place in South Africa from 25 April to 4 May, while Group B is scheduled to take place in Rwanda in June and July 2020.
However, the Cricket South Africa (CSA) has suspended all cricket matches at professional and amateur levels, for the next 60 days after the country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster on Sunday.
Widespread measures across the country, which include a travel ban on people from high-risk areas, and a prohibition of gatherings of over 100 people, have now halted sporting events, with the Premier Soccer League, Super Rugby and the Two Oceans Marathon also suspended.
That means the 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers is unlikely to be staged in South Africa.
The Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) has also announced on Tuesday the suspension of all cricketing activities with immediate effect until further notice, wherever it is played.
“The association requests all cricket players’ juniors/men/women and all clubs to follow the laid down guidelines for the benefits of the cricketing fraternity and society we live in,” reads a statement signed by the TCA Chairman Premji Pindoria.
TCA Information Officer, Atif Salim also said after receiving a directive from National Sports Council (NSC), who acted upon an order by Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, all cricket events will be suspended for 30 days due to coronavirus epidemic.
In Harare the national cricket has so far played three build up matches against Rhinos, winning one and lost two.
The team coach, Steve Tikolo is overwhelmed with the quality of improvement that was displayed by his charges in their second T-20 build-up match against Rhinos at Kwekwe Sports Club in Harare on Monday.
“The first game was very promising and it’s disappointing we couldn’t win after having the upper hand in most of the play. I have seen and identified the shortfalls and will work with the boys on the same,” said Steve.
“As for the second game, despite a bad start my boys showed maturity and handled the pressure well in the moments that mattered.
I am pleased with the attitude of this group but there is a lot of room for improvement,” he added.
