Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) and national head coach Asanka Gurusinha have got a clear indication of how their plans for the 2021 season is going to pan out after the conclusion of the men’s national championships last weekend. Edo State team defeated Kaduna state team by 57 runs in the finals of the championships and players from both the teams have impressed the national coaching set-up.
Gurusinha has revealed that the plan is to have a core group of 20 players for the National Performance Squad while another set of 20 players will be part of the National Developmental Squad, which will act as a feeder system for players to gradually challenge for spots in the national team. Nigeria men’s squad are due to take part in multiple tournaments in 2021, including the inaugural edition of Africa Cricket Association (ACA) T20 Africa Cup scheduled to take place in September 2021 in South Africa.
Nigeria men will also be taking part in the ICC Africa regional finals in November 2021 at home, and selected players will be part of a four-month training camp to prepare themselves for the competitions ahead. The likes of Peter Aho, Mustapha Yusuf, Selim Salau, Isaac Okpe and Sylvester Okpe were the standout performers in the national championships for their respective state sides.
Nigeria are placed alongside Uganda, Ghana and Cameroon in Group A of T20 Africa Cup tournament, while Group B comprises of Kenya, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique. Nigeria’s last international assignment was the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup global qualifiers in October/November in United Arab Emirates.
The domestic players will again get an opportunity to play competitive cricket during the 20th National Sports Festival set to begin in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria from 02nd to 14th April 2021. Edo State (host), Delta State, Lagos State, Kaduna State, Kwara State and Anambra State are competing in the men’s category in 50-overs and T20 formats. Edo State (Host), Akwa Ibom State, F.C.T, Lagos State, Kaduna State and Ebonyi State will be competing in the women’s category during the festival.
