By Ntokozo Magongo
MBABANE – It was a dream start for the country in the on-going ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifiers in Abuja, Nigeria.
Eswatini records its first victory after a fantastic performance against St Helena, winning by 48 runs. This triumph was a true testament of the team’s combined effort and unwavering dedication. The country is part of the five countries that are battling for a spot in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
According to the Eswatini Cricket Association (ECA), some of the standout performers included Adil Butt (Man of the Match) who showcased his skills with an impressive 81 runs off 43 balls. Minhaz Khojbhariya also contributed strongly with a solid 46 runs off 27 balls. On the bowling front, Umair Qasim stole the show, taking a remarkable 3 for 14 in 4 overs.
“This win boosts our spirits as we gear up for the next challenges ahead. Eswatini has three more matches to prove our mettle against Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone,” reads a statement from ECA.
Eswatini will face the hosts, Nigeria in their second match on Tuesday (November 26, 2024) at 9:30am.
The team is led by Sohail Khan who is the Coach while Mandla Dlamini is the team Manager. The players are Adil Butt (Captain), Buhle Dlamini, Javid Suleman, Joseph Wright, Umair Qasim, Muhammad Amin, Minhaz Khorbariya, Melusi Magagula, Rohan Sandeep, Mancoba Jele, Mohammed Alangir, Veli Jele, Tarun Sandeep and Thandolwethu Dlamini.
The team left the country highly motivated after receiving E50 000 from Century Fashions and Easy Buy. They were also bid farewell by the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima who encouraged them to fight for pride and positive results during the qualifiers. Also present during the farewell function was the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) Chief Executive Officer 9CEO) Darius Dlomo.
