Botswana national cricket team

Cricket team from Botswana

Botswana
Botswana Cricket Association logo
Nickname(s)Baggy Blues[1]
AssociationBotswana Cricket Association
Personnel
CaptainKarabo Motlhanka
CoachStanley Timoni
International Cricket Council
ICC statusAssociate member[2] (2005)
ICC regionAfrica
ICC Rankings Current[3] Best-ever
T20I 49th 30th (2 May 2019)
International cricket
First international2 September 2002 v Zambia at Lusaka, Zambia
Twenty20 Internationals
First T20Iv  Uganda at Lugogo Stadium, Kampala; 20 May 2019
Last T20Iv  Malawi at Willowmoore Park, Benoni; 19 December 2023
T20Is Played Won/Lost
Total[4] 39 15/23
(0 ties, 1 no result)
This year[5] 0 0/0
(0 ties, 0 no results)
As of 1 January 2024

The Botswana national cricket team is the men's team that represents Botswana in international cricket. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 2005, after previously being an affiliate member since 2001[6] and an associate member in 2017.[2] They are in Division Five of the World Cricket League[7] and are ranked at joint 29th in the world by the International Cricket Council (ICC). They are the 5th-highest ranked non-Test team in the African region.[8] The team's coach is former Kenyan ODI player Joseph Angara, who was appointed in July 2015.[9]

History

Cricket was started in the country by expatriates from South Africa and the Indian subcontinent.[10] Botswana was elected to the ICC as an affiliate member in 2001,[6] and played in the Africa Cup in Zambia the following year. After winning all their first-round matches against Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, they beat Kenya in the semi-final before losing by 270 runs to South Africa in the final.[11]

In March 2004, they won the African affiliates qualifying tournament for the 2005 ICC Trophy, qualifying them for the next stage of qualification, the Africa Cricket Association Championships. They beat Nigeria and Tanzania in that tournament in Zambia in August, finishing fourth, thus missing out on qualification for their first ICC Trophy.[12] They were rewarded for their performance in this tournament by being promoted to associate membership of the ICC in 2005.[6]

In 2006, they took part in Division Two of the African region of the World Cricket League, finishing second behind Tanzania.[13] This qualified them for Division Five of the World Cricket League.[7]

In May 2008, Botswana travelled to Jersey to take part in the Division Five tournament. Although Botswana beat the Bahamas in Group B, it was their only group stage win and with three losses and one match abandoned due to rain they failed to make the semi-finals. Botswana finished sixth overall after defeating Germany but losing to Singapore in positional playoff matches. With only the top two from this tournament qualifying for Division Four in Tanzania later in the year, Botswana missed out on the chance to take their 2011 World Cup dream any further.[14]

In October 2008, Botswana took part in Division Two of the African region of the World Cricket League, finishing unbeaten and winning the tournament. This victory promoted them to Division One of the Africa Region.[15]

In August 2009, Botswana travelled to Singapore to participate in Division Six of the World Cricket League. Despite being competitive in most of their games, Botswana won only one of five group matches and finished fifth after beating Norway in a positional playoff.[16]

In May 2011, Botswana hosted the ICC World Cricket League Division Seven with a young squad and performed admirably well, winning three league stage matches against Norway, Japan and Germany but losing out to eventual champions Kuwait, 2nd placed Nigeria and finally Germany in the placing match. The match versus Nigeria in the league stages was to decide which of the 2 nations would progress to the ICC World Cricket League Division Six to be held in Malaysia in September 2011 and by losing that match, Botswana failed to progress and will remain in Division Seven till the next instalment of the ICC WCL.

In April 2013, Botswana were given hosting rights again for the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 in their second attempt in trying to get promoted out of Division 7 after halting the relegation slide in the last edition. Beating Ghana in the first match, Botswana lost their second match in a competitive encounter against Vanuatu by 23 runs. Botswana then lost third next match heavily to eventual WCL Div 7 winners and arch rivals Nigeria. Botswana tried in vain to get back into contention for promotion but after a tied match against Germany, all hopes were dashed and the best they could hope for was a third-place finish. This was achieved by beating Fiji in the last group match and then beating them again in the third-place playoff earning Botswana a third place, finishing behind Vanuatu and Nigeria who were both promoted to Division 6 of the WCL. With the ICC's decision to eliminate the ICC World Cricket League Divisions 7 and 8, Botswana will now have to qualify through regional tournaments to make it into the ICC World Cricket League Division 6, which will now be the entry point for the World Cricket League.

2018–present

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Botswana and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have the full T20I status.[17]

Botswana’s first T20I match was against Uganda on 20 May 2019, after finishing first in the Southern sub-region qualification group, advancing to the Regional Final of the 2018–19 ICC World Twenty20 Africa Qualifier tournament.[18]

20 May 2019
13:50
Scorecard
Uganda 
142/7 (20 overs)
v
 Botswana
90 (18 overs)
Arnold Otwani 44 (27)
Karabo Modise 3/18 (3 overs)
Vinoo Balakrishnan 26 (32)
Frank Nsubuga 2/19 (4 overs)
Uganda won by 52 runs
Lugogo Stadium, Kampala
Umpires: Emmanuel Byiringiro (Rwa) and David Odhiambo (Ken)
Player of the match: Arnold Otwani (Uga)
  • Botswana won the toss and elected to field.
  • First ever T20I match for Botswana.

Grounds

class=notpageimage|
Locations of all stadiums within Botswana which have hosted cricket matches with international status

Tournament history

World Cricket League Africa Region

  • 2006: Division Two runners-up[19]
  • 2008: Division Two winners[15]

World Cricket League

ACA Africa T20 Cup

Records and statistics

International match summary[23]

Last updated 19 December 2023

Playing Record
Format M W L T NR Inaugural Match
Twenty20 Internationals 39 15 23 0 1 20 May 2019

Twenty20 International

Most T20I runs for Botswana[27]

Player Runs Average Career span
Karabo Motlhanka 990 29.11 2019–2023
Reginald Nehonde 701 22.61 2019–2023
Vinoo Balakrishnan 534 23.21 2019–2023
Thatayaone Tshose 307 20.46 2019–2023
Ameer Saiyed 287 19.13 2019–2023

Most T20I wickets for Botswana[28]

Player Wickets Average Career span
Dhruv Maisuria 71 9.46 2019–2023
Mmoloki Mooketsi 38 21.81 2019–2023
Reginald Nehonde 19 20.42 2019–2023
Karabo Motlhanka 18 12.33 2019–2023
Katlo Piet 18 15.88 2019–2023

T20I record versus other nations[23]

Records complete to T20I #2412. Last updated 19 December 2023.

Opponent M W L T NR First match First win
vs Associate Members
 Cameroon 1 1 0 0 0 5 November 2021 5 November 2021
 Eswatini 1 1 0 0 0 29 May 2023 29 May 2023
 Ghana 2 2 0 0 0 18 September 2022 18 September 2022
 Kenya 5 1 4 0 0 24 November 2022 15 June 2023
 Lesotho 1 1 0 0 0 18 November 2022 18 November 2022
 Malawi 3 2 1 0 0 20 November 2022 30 May 2023
 Mali 1 1 0 0 0 22 November 2022 22 November 2022
 Mozambique 3 3 0 0 0 6 November 2021 6 November 2021
 Namibia 5 0 5 0 0 22 May 2019
 Nigeria 1 0 1 0 0 21 May 2019
 Rwanda 4 1 3 0 0 17 November 2022 10 June 2023
 Saint Helena 1 1 0 0 0 25 November 2022 25 November 2022
 Seychelles 1 0 0 0 1 17 November 2022
 Sierra Leone 2 1 1 0 0 2 November 2021 2 November 2021
 Tanzania 2 0 2 0 0 7 November 2021
 Uganda 6 0 6 0 0 20 May 2019

Other records

For a list of selected international matches played by Botswana, see Cricket Archive.

Squad

This lists all the players who have played for Botswana in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 19 June 2023.

Name Age Batting style Bowling style Notes
Batters
Karabo Motlhanka 31 Left-handed Captain
Phemelo Silas 22 Right-handed Right-arm leg break
Vinoo Balakrishan 35 Right-handed Right-arm off break
Ameer Saiyed 27 Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
All-rounders
Reginald Nehonde 33 Right-handed Right-arm off break
Thatayaone Tshose 28 Right-handed Right-arm fast
Wicket-keepers
Valentine Mbazo 24 Right-handed
Rod Mbaiwa 20 Right-handed
Spin Bowlers
Mmoloki Mooketsi 27 Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
Dhruv Maisuria 25 Right-handed Right-arm leg break
Katlo Piet 21 Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox
Pace Bowlers
Boemo Khumalo 22 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast
Boteng Maphosa 22 Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast
Boemo Kgoseimang 24 Right-handed Right-arm medium

Coaches

See also

References

  1. ^ "icc-t20-world-cup-africa-final-unique-trophy-shoot-leaves-captains-in-awe". Cricket Uganda. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. ^ "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
  4. ^ "T20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  5. ^ "T20I matches - 2024 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  6. ^ a b c "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  7. ^ a b Jersey to host World Cricket League Division Five Archived 24 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine, ICC Media Release
  8. ^ "Live Cricket Scores & News International Cricket Council (ICC)". icc-cricket.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  9. ^ Deepak Madangarli (19 August 2015). BCA Activities Update Archived 1 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine – Botswana Cricket Association. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  10. ^ History of cricket in Botswana Archived 17 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "2002 Africa Cup at CricketEurope". Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  12. ^ "2005 ICC Trophy African qualifying at the tournament's official website". Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
  13. ^ 2006 WCL Africa Region Division Two Archived 16 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
  14. ^ Cricinfo, Accessed 2 September 2009
  15. ^ a b "Botswana win promotion to Africa's top flight | Cricket News | Cricinfo ICC Site | ESPN Cricinfo". Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2015-07-31., Cricinfo, Accessed 1 November 2008
  16. ^ [1], Cricinfo, Accessed 18 September 2009
  17. ^ "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Botswana and Namibia seal passage into Africa Finals". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  19. ^ Cricket Archive, Accessed 1 November 2008[permanent dead link]
  20. ^ Cricinfo, Accessed 18 September 2009
  21. ^ Cricinfo, Accessed 18 September 2009
  22. ^ 514328.html
  23. ^ a b "Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  24. ^ "Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  26. ^ "Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  28. ^ "Records / Botswana / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  29. ^ Disele, Sylviah (1 June 2012). "Menon's cricket puzzle coming together". Mmegi. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  30. ^ Ncube, Dumisani (30 April 2015). "SA cricket coach to assist Botswana team". Mmegi. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  31. ^ Madangarli, Deepak (19 August 2015). "BCA Activities Update". Botswana Cricket Association. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  32. ^ "New cricket coach checks in as Angara departs". Mmegi. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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