The Africa Cricket Association (ACA) has postponed the north west qualifiers of the men’s ACA T20 Cup from June 22, to August 6, 2023 and to be held at Johannesburg, South Africa, due to technical issues.
The tournament which had its maiden qualifiers in 2018 and finals in 2022 was to see Ghana, battle the likes of Gambia and Mali in Group B in a single round robin before squaring it off with winner of Group A; Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Cameroon at Abuja from June 22 to June 30.
However, the pairings have also been changed with two east African countries joining, as Ghana will lock horns with Nigeria, Rwanda and Gambia in Group A, whereas, Kenya, Cameron, Mali and Sierra Leone are in Group B.
This development will offer more time for the senior national men’s cricket team to engage in more friendlies in their nonresidential camping with the 18 invited players, as they have been playing an Indian select side.
Th team started their nonresidential camping 2 months ago at the Achimota Cricket Oval, with 3 times a week training schedule.
Botswana won the Southern qualifiers that was hosted in South Africa, at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni from May 21 to June 1, 2023, with Malawi and Mozambique qualifying alongside to the finals that is slated for September.
Ghana made a 100% qualification feat in Lagos in 2018 to the finals in 2022 and hops to replicate that feat.
Samson Kwasi Awe Awiah is the Captain of the Men’s Senior Team, and he says, the postponement is a positive news.
“The positives of this postponement outweigh the negatives, because it will give us more time to improve better performance and fitness wise. It will also help us to rebuild and strategize as we will meet new opponents. The expectations, psyche of mind and plans are the negatives, but that can be dealt with. We are however hopeful of qualifying.”
Ghana would have left the shores of the country today, June 22, 2023.
Uganda are the maiden edition champions of the ACA T20 Africa Cup, after beating Tanzania in the finals in September 2022.
Source: TalksenseSports
