|
Eyes
On Africa : A Special Feature by Hemant Sharma
from Lusaka, Zambia |
ZAMBIA
The Southern African
Republic of Zambia has been a hub of lots of
activities lately when it comes to Cricket. The
game has been played here since the 1900's with
organised cricket begining in the
1950's.
Prior to independence, known as Northern
Rhodesia, The North
Rhodesia Cricket Union
was pivotal in firming the roots of the game.
Till the 1990s, the game belonged to the
Expatriates only with minimal Local involvement.
Zambia Cricket
Union (ZCU) working
closely with the
Africa Cricket Association
was able to get ICC Associate Membership in
June 2003.
Starting in 1995, the
School Development Program
increased the number of children playin Cricket
to 5,000 across
sections of Government, private and community
school of the nation. Healthy & active
encouragement by the ZCU
in youth development led to the birth of U-13,
U-15 & U-19 development leagues and teams in
schools all over. The efforts of ZCU have been
acknowledged by Government of Zambia by awarding
them National Sports Council of Zambia(NSCZ)
Annual Awards for Best
Development outreach, Best Youth Development
Programme & Best Sports Administration
for 3 years continuously. In September 2002
Zambia succesfuly hosted the
Africa Cup
tournament with Ten African Cricket BigWigs
participating including South Africa,Zimbabwe,
Kenya,Namibia, Zambia, Nigeria, Malawi,
Botswana, Uganda & Tanzania. In August 2004,
Zambia again played host to the
ICC WorldCup Qualifying
series tournament. And the hosts came 3rd
enabling them a place to particiapte in
Malaysia for
Playoffs to make way to the Mini World cup in
2005.
| ICC
Status : |
Associate Member |
| Elected to ICC |
2003 |
| No of players
|
Unknown |
| No of clubs |
Unknown |
| World Cup : |
Never appeared |
| ICC Trophy Best : |
Never appeared |
| Address
of governing body : |
Zambia Cricket Union,
PO Box 34321, Lusaka, Zambia |
ICC WC qualifying trophy latest
7th August,2004.Tanzania upsets an
Un-motivated Zambia.
Tanzania 202
Zambia 178 all out(46 ovr)
The talks of a Tanzania-Zambia Grudge match
failed to motivate an already-qualified home
team to play their final game with vigour.
Tanzania, whose brave decision to send a
development side for the event eventually won
more than just accolades and praises when they
bruised the home team who ended the event with
just 2 wins and 3 losses. Tanzania who had
crossed the 100 run mark only once in the last 4
games was looking set to another sub-100 total
when they found themselves reeling at 46-5 at
one stage. But lack of commitment on behalf of
the Zambian bowlers and some smart Tanzanian
young brains managed to post a total of 202 for
the first time. Zambia who clearly looked like
they were not playing to win, made a good start
while chasing with a first wicket stand of 50.
But again, a middle order collapse invited the
young Tanzanians to crawl back into the game and
some careless strokeplay by the late middle
order ensured that the Tanzanians didn't leave
Zambia "point-less". Cited by ICC RDM Hoosain
Ayob as the best game, Zambia really needs to
learn from its mistakes and needs to remember
that Cricket is played and fought to win. There
were some great shots in the end by Zambia, but
unfortunately they had just 10 wickets to play
with, like every other team. Young Tanzania went
home with lots of pride and cricketing
lessons.This tournament will pave way for a
bright future for them.
6th August,2004.Zambian batting fails
again, Uganda continues to impress.
Zambia 125 all out
Uganda 126/5 (34 ovr)
If 6 ducks in the previous game wasn't enough
to ruin their chances of qualifying for the Mini
World cup, Zambia opted to have 5 more ducks
today against the motivated Ugandans. If half of
your batting line up goes scoreless, then it is
urgently required to be reminded that cricket is
a team game of 11. A target of 126 in 50 overs
is more of a formalty rather than a challenge,
and the Ugandans overcame this without too much
trouble. The home team bowlers did try to keep
the morale of the optimistic home crowd up by
some periodic spicy bowling but the Uganda boys
showed character and determination which is why
they have remained undefeated right through the
last 4 days. Uganda now qualifies for Ireland
along with Namibia while Zambia had some relief
when it was known that they still have a chance
to make it to Ireland as they have to play the
Playoffs in Malaysia now. Uganda plays Namibia
tomorrow to determine who is the better of the
two undefeated teams. While Zambia should take
tomorows match against neighbouring Tanzania as
an important practise game even as the results
will not affect their qualification for
Malaysia.
4th August,2004. Zambia crashes as
Namibia cruise on.
Namibia 237/5
Zambia 101 all out(32 ovr)
The winning spree of the enthusiastic home
team came to a screeching halt as the Namibian
team thrashed Zambia by the biggest margin seen
in the tournament so far. Led by an almost
flawless 97 by Jan Berry Berger, Namibians put
on a total of 237 for 5 wickets at the LSCC
grounds.Poor catching and fielding display by
the Zambians taught more than a few lessons to
the home team and administrators that a World
Cup appearance is a distant dream if things dont
improve in the future. Tournament favorite
Namibia outclassed and outplayed Zambia and the
experience they gained from participating in the
2003 World Cup clearly outweighs them to every
other team in the tournament.Batting, which is
considered Zambia's main strength failed to make
any impression as six of their batsmen went
without troubling the scorers.A late mini
resistance by the tail enabled the hosts to
cross the 100 run mark and salvaging some
statistical pride. Apart from Uganda,the
Namibians considered the home team to be a
challenge, but this illusion quickly
dispappeared as suggested by the victory margin
of 136 runs highest in the tournament.
3rd August,2004. Zambia stumble, but
overpower Nigeria in the end.
Nigeria 97 all out
Zambia 100/8(25 ovr)
The second game for the host nation taught
everyone in the team to not to take anything for
granted. Cricket is known as a glorious game of
uncertainities and this was evident in the
picturesque Lotus club ground today when Zambia
stumbled while chasing the small total of 96 put
on by Nigeria. With nothing to lose, the
Nigerian balling attack showed a spirited
performance and the Zambian batting displayed
some carelesness. At the 12th over, Zambia was
realing on 46 for 6 and the spring in the step
of the Nigerians was exciting to watch. But in
such small totals one or two common sense
innings are all that is needed to take you
through. Under immense pressure, the late middle
order of Zambia ensured that the hosts make the
desired runs with 25 overs to spare and 2
wickets in hand. The Nigerians showed character
and went home with their heads high as they
didn't gift the points to Zambia. A perfect
example for learners that in Cricket, like in
life, Nothing can be taken for granted.
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 alloted 50 overs on a windy n
pleasantly warm sunny day at Metropolitan Club.
Botswana didnt 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 didnot 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.
Top of the Page
|
