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Eyes
On Africa : A Special Feature by Hemant Sharma
from Lusaka, Zambia |
BOTSWANA
 Cricket
was started by expatriates from South Africa,
India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in this Southern
African nation of Botswana. Among the Activites
taking place, Botswana witnesses "6-a side"
tournament played in
Gaborone, Pikwe,
Francistown and Jwaneng.An
18 team, 35-over League is organized comprising
Gabarone, Molepolole & Lobaste. A different 35
over league is played in the north between Pikwe
& Francistown. BCA also undertakes a 50 over
league with teams from Lobotse, Gabarone, Pikwe,
Jwaneng, Orapa and Francistown.
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ICC Status :
Affiliate Member
Elected to ICC: 2001
No. of players : Unknown
Number of clubs : 18
World Cup : Never appeared
ICC Trophy Best : Never appeared
Address of governing body : Botswana
Cricket Association, P O Box 838 Gaborone |
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The most important strides taken by the
Botswana Cricket Association are in the
grassroots development programs for the
Junior leagues and for
Women's Cricket on Saturdays. Elected
to the ICC as an affiliate member as
recently as in 2001, this young cricket
nation already boasts of hosting an ICC
Under-15 Tournament and is an Annual host of
the World Group Mini World Cup. Botswana had
to win the African Affiliates tournament in
order to qualify for the WCQS Associates
Tournament in Zambia. The Botswana Team
impressed everyone although they couldn't
advance to the next stage, but they came
very close to coming Third and qualifying
for Malaysia Playoffs for the Mini World Cup
in Ireland in 2005. |
ICC WC qualifying trophy latest
7th August,2004. Botswana edge
Nigeria in a high scoring run-fiesta.
Botswana 270
Nigeria 247 all out
Centrals Cricket Club seemed to be the sole
witness of the highest run scoring game of the
week. With virtually no crowd attendance due to
the anticipation and interest in the other
on-going games this High scoring game faded into
oblivion. A win in this game for either of the
teams couldn't have ensured them any
qualification, but it was still played with full
passion. A total of 517 runs and a victory
margin of just 23, this game provided all the
nail biting entertainment that it is
conceivable. Botswana in the end had the better
of things and would rue the fact that they will
not be able to go to the Malaysia Playoffs due
to the narrow loss to host Zambia. Both Botswana
and Zambia are on 10 points but since Zambia
beat them on the 1st day in a close game,
Botswana have to return home. Nigeria too
wouldn't have made it had they beaten Botswana
as they too had lost to Zambia.
6th August,2004. Namibian dominance
continues, Botswana bows down.
Namibia 252/3
Botswana 64 all out(34 ovr)
Jan Berry Berger finished off what he
couldn't do in the last game. He missed the
honour of being the first centurion of the
tournament on Wednesday against Zambia, but
today he was determined to repeat his efforts
and it paid off against a low-in-confidence
Botswana. He scored 102 before being Run Out.
The story of the match continues to be similar
like the previous Namibian games, Namibia put on
a total of 252 for 3 wickets at the Lotus club
and they crumbled the opposition batting line up
before they could realize what hit them. Agile
and fearless bowling and fielding did not let
the Botswana team to have any remote chances of
creating an upset. The habit of early finishes
continued as Botswana was sent home packing in
the 34th over with the team score of 64 only.
Namibia plays Uganda tomorrow on the last day of
the tournament. Both Namibia and Uganda have
remained undefeated so far in the event and
tomorrow's game will prove which team out of
them will have the honours to be called the best
African associate cricket team.
4th August,2004.Tanzania not good
enough for Botswana.
Botswana 235/9
Tanzania 161 all out
When Botswana stepped into the field today,
they looked very positive in their approach and
determination. Playing sensibly and with skill,
the Botswana batsmen who impressed a lot in the
close game against home team Zambia scored 235
in the allotted 50 overs. This certainly wasn't
a winning total but a fighting one. But the
Tanzanian team hasn't looked comfortable in the
last 3 days. And when the chase began, although
the runs kept coming, the wickets kept on
falling. Although it wasn't a close game but it
was the best batting score by the East Africans
in this tournament to date. Botswana who might
have felt that having no points against their
names was more due to hard luck should look
forward as they are not out of contention yet.
3rd August,2004. Uganda humble
Botswana.
Botswana 167 all out
Uganda 168/6(42ovr)
Lusaka South Cricket Club (LSCC) witnessed
Botswana being outplayed by the Central
Africans. Batting first the promising Botswana
team could only manage 167. The highly spirited
Ugandan team without much pain or difficulty
reached their target thus denying the Botswana
team to have any points against their name. With
this loss, the Botswana team's progress to the
WC qualifiers is pretty much impossible as their
next match is scheduled against favorites
Namibia who haven't shown any sign of weakness
or complacency.
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2nd August,2004. Zambia beat Botswana
in a nailbiter.
Zambia 238/9
Botswana 219 (49 ovr)
Batting first, Zambia scored a competitive
238 in their allotted 50 overs on a windy n
pleasantly warm sunny day at Metropolitan Club.
Botswana didn't allow the hosts to get to a huge
total by their accurate and agile fielding
display. The visitors in their reply started
with caution and didn't lose wickets and looked
set to win with wickets in hand. But timely
wickets and tight bowling by the Zambians denied
the Botswana team what could so easily have been
theirs. The crowds gathered on the grounds got a
taste of the real excitement of cricket with the
outcome of the match not predictable till the
final wicket fell.
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