By Adeyemi Robinson-Adefioye Lagos
The Yellow-Greens, Nigeria National Male Cricket Team,has lined up series of T20 matches with the Sierra Leonian national team as part of their build up matches ahead of the Cricket World Cup Qualification in November.
President of the Federation, Uyi Akpata said the Bilateral Series with Sierra Leone scheduled for the University of Lagos’ Cricket Oval is an essential part of the team’s World Cup plan.
“The African Regional T20 World Cup Qualifying Series in Rwanda later in November is a major event for us and the build-up to the event has been going on steadily. Form Tuesday October 19th, the preparation would enter a new phase with the Bilateral Series with Sierra Leone where Six T20 Matches would be played.” He said.
Akpata said the national team has been in series of close camps, including a training tour of Uganda last August that has kept the team busy ahead of the November World Cup Qualifying Schedule.
Nigeria has a new look team that is largely drawn from the 2020 ICC Under 19 World Cup representatives, one which the current Head Coach, Asanka Gurusinha has been working with since the National Men’s Championship earlier in the year.
The World Cup winning coach said that the national team has a lot of promise and the youthfulness presents them with opportunities for growth and introduction of new thoughts and ideologies into the team.
According the Head Coach, “Nigeria has a number of interesting Cricket talents that I believe with time can rival the best on the continent and make statements on global platforms, but there is need for a lot of work and patience with the team and I am particularly pleased with the long-term vision of the Nigeria Cricket Federation which should make than happen.”
The Bilateral Series with Sirra Leone will run from Tuesday October 19 to Tuesday October 26, 2021 and all matches are expected to be played at the Unilag Cricket Oval, in Lagos.
