Rwanda Cricket announce squad for Kwibuka Memorial Women’s T20I tournament

Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) have announced the senior Women’s squad for the upcoming 5-nation Women’s T20I tournament being held in Rwanda from June 06th – 12th, which is an annual tournament intended to pay homage to the victims of the Kwibuka genocide against the Tutsi community in Rwanda in 1994.

Rwanda Women will be competing against team’s from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia and Nigeria in the competition, with all teams scheduled to play in a single round-robin format, followed by the semifinals and the finals/third place play-off. All the matches in the tournament will carry ranking points towards ICC Women’s T20I team rankings table. The matches are very crucial for all the countries, as they will again meet each other during the ICC Africa regional qualifiers for 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Botswana.

Rwanda national squad members have been playing a series of inter-squad games to prepare for the tournament and challenge the much-fancied three time tournament winners Kenya and the likes of Namibia and Nigeria. Rwanda Cricket have also signed a 5-year live broadcast streaming deal with Pune-based company, Women’s CricZone and all the matches from the tournament will be live streamed across the company’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Rwanda Women Squad

Sarah Uwera (Captain), Sifa Ingabire, Immaculee Muhawenimana, Alice Ikuzwe, Diane Ishimwe, Marie Diane Bimenyimana, Henriette Ishimwe, Gisele Ishimwe, Flora Irakoze, Josiane Nyirankundineza, Belyse Murekatete, Cathia Uwamahoro, Delphine Mukarurangwa, Margueritte Vumiliya, Antoinette Uwimbabazi, Merveille Uwase, Josiane Uwimbabazi and Olive Dusabimana

Rwanda Women Inter-squad Matches Brief Scores

Inyange 116/6 in 20 overs (Delphine Mukarurangwa 41, Henriette Ishimwe 33, Belyse Murekatete 2/22, Olive Dusabimana 1/21, Alice Ikuzwe 1/22) beat Imena 91/9 in 20 overs (Gisele Ishimwe 20, Merveille Uwase 19, Belyse Murekatete 14 n.o, Josiane Uwimbabazi 3/18, Sifa Ingabire 2/8, Marie Diane Bimenyimana 2/21, Josiane Nyirankundineza 1/14) by 25 runs

Imena 100/9 in 20 overs (Gisele Ishimwe 31, Alice Ikuzwe 20, Sifa Ingabire 2/13, Margueritte Vumiliya 2/18, Josiane Uwimbabazi 1/17, Marie Diane Bimenyimana 1/26) lost to Inyange 101/7 in 19.4 overs (Marie Diane Bimenyimana 23, Antoinette Uwimbabazi 21 n.o, Sifa Ingabire 17, Merveille Uwase 3/19, Olive Dusabimana 1/14) by 3 wickets

Imena 88/3 in 20 overs (Gisele Ishimwe 31, Cathia Uwamahoro 23 n.o, Josiane Uwimbabazi 2/11, Henriette Ishimwe 1/12) lost to Inyange 91/1 in 17.3 overs (Henriette Ishimwe 28 n.o, Delphine Mukarurangwa 22, Sarah Uwera 18 retired hurt, Gisele Ishimwe 1/21) by 9 wickets