Rwanda Cricket Association is the official
governing body
A governing body is a group of people that has the authority to exercise governance over an organization or political entity. The most formal is a government, a body whose sole responsibility and authority is to make binding decisions in a taken ge ...
of
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
sports in
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
. Its current headquarters is located in
kicukiro district in
Kigali
Kigali () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation's geographic centre in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes. As a primate city, Kigali has been Rwa ...
city .
Rwanda Cricket Association is Rwanda's representative at the
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the world governing body of cricket. Headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, its members are List of International Cricket Council members, 108 national associations, with 12 List of Internation ...
and is an
associate member and has been a member of that body since 2003.
It is also a member of the
African Cricket Association
The Africa Cricket Association (ACA) is an international body which coordinates the development of cricket in Africa. The ACA was founded in 1997, and has 23 member countries.
The role of the ACA includes promoting the development of cricket in ...
.
Today, cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
. The game was first introduced in the country after the
1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, following the return of many Rwandans who had been exiled in English-speaking cricket-playing neighboring countries – such as
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
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, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
,
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
and
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
.
Most of these exiles were students and played the game while pursuing their studies at the National University of Rwanda (now
University of Rwanda
University of Rwanda is a public collegiate, multi campus university based in Kigali, Rwanda. Formed in 2013 through the merger of previously independent education institutions, the University of Rwanda is the largest education institution in R ...
).
IPRC Kigali later became the home of cricket and went on to host several league and schools cricket competitions before the establishment of
Gahanga Cricket Stadium; the first international stadium in 2017.
Charles Haba
Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...
, one of the pioneers of the game at the National University of Rwanda went on to become the first President of the Association which was founded between 1999 and 2000.
The game is now played by over 23,010 people across the country. RCA’s annual calendar includes international competitions, domestic club competitions (
50-over league,
T20 league and most recently a
T10 league
T10 League or Abu Dhabi T10 is a Ten10 cricket league in the United Arab Emirates launched and owned by T Ten Sports Management. The league is approved by the Emirates Cricket Board. Matches are 10-overs-a-side and the duration of each match ...
which attracts the country’s top clubs).
Other regular competitions include the schools’ competition and a university competition.
Emmanuel Byiringiro is the General
Manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities o ...
of RCA.
Landry Rurangwa is the Development Manager.
Key milestones
In 2003, Rwanda Cricket Association became an affiliate member of the
International Cricket Council (ICC)
In 2004, Rwanda made its debut at an ICC tournament when the national senior men’s team participated in the
ICC Africa
The Africa Cricket Association (ACA) is an international body which coordinates the development of cricket in Africa. The ACA was founded in 1997, and has 23 member countries.
The role of the ACA includes promoting the development of cricket in ...
Affiliates Championship in
Benoni,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
.
In 2010, Rwanda Cricket Association celebrated its 10-year anniversary.
In 2011, Rwanda were crowned champions of the ICC T20 Africa Division 3 tournament.
In 2017, Rwanda Cricket Association launched
Gahanga Cricket Stadium; the first international standard Stadium.
In 2018, Rwanda hosted the World T20 Africa B Qualifier.
In 2019, Rwanda hosted the ICC World Cup Trophy.
In July 2020, Rwanda Cricket Association won the 100% Cricket Participation Programme of the Year award, in the ICC's Annual Development Awards.
The national senior women’s team is ranked 7th in Africa
2021- update:
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most sports activities were cancelled. However, Rwanda Cricket Association is set to hold the annual Kwibuka T20 Tournament at Gahanga Cricket Oval in June 2021. Five national teams are expected at the event.
Board Members
President – Mr Stephen Musaale
Vice President - Mr Audifax Byiringiro
General Secretary - Mr Julius Mbaraga
Treasurer - Mr Srinath Vardhineni
Women Representative – Ms. Sonia Uwimana
Awards
Ground
Gahanga Cricket Stadium and IPRC Cricket Ground are the main cricket grounds in Rwanda.
In August 2011,
Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equato ...
was formed to build and manage, on a not-for-profit basis, the first dedicated international cricket ground in
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
. The stadium sits on 4.5-hectares on the outskirts of Kigali, Rwanda's capital.
The charity is run by a team of cricket enthusiasts from the
UK Christopher Shale
Christopher Michael Henry Shale (23 August 1954 – 25 June 2011) was a British businessman and Conservative politician. He was chairman of the West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, and a close associate of Prime Minister and local MP ...
and Rwanda in partnership with the
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence ...
Foundation.
In 2012,
Brian Lara
Brian Charles Lara, (born 2 May 1969) is a Trinidadian former international cricketer, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He topped the Test batting rankings on several occasions and holds several cricketing reco ...
agreed to join a decorated list of patrons;
British Prime Minister
The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister advises the sovereign on the exercise of much of the royal prerogative, chairs the Cabinet and selects its ministers. As modern p ...
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2005 to 2016. He previously served as Leader o ...
,
Andrew Mitchell
Andrew John Bower Mitchell (born 23 March 1956) is a British politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton Coldfield since 2001. A member of the Conservative Party, Mitchell was previously the MP for Gedling from 1987 to 199 ...
,
Jonathan Agnew
Jonathan Philip Agnew, (born 4 April 1960) is an English cricket broadcaster and a former professional cricketer. He was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, and educated at Uppingham School. He is nicknamed "Aggers", and, less commonly, "Spiro" †...
,
Heather Knight and
Peter Gummer, Baron Chadlington
Peter Selwyn Gummer, Baron Chadlington FCIPR FIoD FCinstM FRSA (born 24 August 1942) is an English businessman.
He is currently President of the Witney Conservative constituency association, and is a PR adviser, long-standing supporter and do ...
Gahanga Cricket Stadium was officially launched in 2017.
References
External links
Cricinfo-RwandaRwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation
{{Affiliate Members of the International Cricket Council
Cricket administration
Cricket in Rwanda