Adeyemi Robinson-Adefioye, Lagos
The Male Senior national team, YELLOW-GREEN sent a message to the competing sides for the six remaining slots of the INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL’S (ICC) MEN’S T-20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER when they handed KENYA, one of the African favourites, a shocking defeat in a Warm up match on Monday 7th October, 2019.
The Qualifier, which will be held at different venues in DUBAI and ABU DHABI in the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES have Nigeria included at the expense of ZIMBABWE, who was handed a disqualification by the ICC on account of government interference in the sport administration.
The Nigerian team was an automatic alternative after finishing third in an African pre-qualifier held in KAMPALA, UGANDA earlier in May. KENYA and NAMIBIA qualified from the event to the last leg of the qualifiers.
However, the Nigerian team that has been camped for over seven weeks including two weeks in ZIMBABWE arrived DUBAI three weeks to the event and looked charged up for the event.
Their victory over KENYA on Monday has beamed the spotlight on the budding team whose federation has received commendations for impressive grassroots development by the ICC.
Nigeria batted first scoring 152 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20overs.
KENYA was bowled all out for 103 runs in 16 overs in the second innings with Nigeria’s DANIEL AJEKUN named Man of the Match with 73runs off 50balls and 4wickets in 2overs.
Speaking on the event, President of the Federation, PROFESSOR YAHAYA UKWENYA said, the win is reassuring given the level of preparations that has gone into the team’s appearance at the event.
“It is good to know that a lot of things are coming together for the team and it makes all of us back home very optimistic of their performance when the event starts.” He said.
Nigeria is presently ranked 38 in the world and would be having their opening match against JERSEY at the ZAYED CRICKET STADIUM on October 19, 2019. The Qualifying rounds will run from October 18 to November 2nd, 2019.
