# Sierra Leone national cricket team

The Sierra Leone national cricket team is the men's team that represents Sierra Leone in international cricket. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2002 and an associate member in 2017.
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Sierra Leone and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have the T20I status.

## History

The history of cricket in Sierra Leone dates back to the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate when it was introduced by the British. In 1887, a Sierra Leone team played a two-day match against a team from the West India Regiments. International cricket dates from the 1930s when Sierra Leone began to play Gambia. In 1967 the West African Championships were created with former British colonies Nigeria and Ghana also sending teams. Starting in 1991, the Sierra Leone Civil War caused a decline in cricketing activity, with the country's main ground Kingtom Oval used as a refugee camp.
Sierra Leone was a member of the West Africa Cricket Council which became a member of the ICC in 1976 and fielded the West Africa cricket team, before being dissolved in 2003. The Sierra Leone Cricket Association became an affiliate member of the ICC in its own right in 2002 and made its debut at an ICC tournament at the 2004 African Affiliates Championship, where they finished last out of the eight teams. They returned at the equivalent tournament in 2006, Division Three of the African region of the World Cricket League, where they showed major improvement, this time finishing as runners-up to Mozambique, and only just missing out on promotion to Division Two.

### T20I status (2019-present)

Sierra Leone gained T20I status in 2019 and played their first match against Nigeria in 2021, securing a narrow win.
* 19 October 2021 12:00 Scorecard
| Nigeria 99 (20 overs) | v | Sierra Leone 100/4 (20 overs) |
| Isaac Okpe 36 (27) Miniru Kpaka 4/11 (4 overs) | | Lansana Lamin 28* (26) Sesan Adedeji 2/14 (2 overs) |
* Sierra Leone won by 6 wickets University of Lagos Cricket Oval, Lagos Umpires: Kehinde Olanbiwonnu (Nga) Player of the match: Miniru Kpaka (Sle)
* Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to field.
In 2021 Sierra Leone was among five teams excluded from the ICC T20I Championship for failing to play enough fixtures in the relevant period, an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Current squad

This lists all the players who have played for Sierra Leone in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Uncapped players are listed in italics. Updated as of 17 December 2023.
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
| Batters |||||
| Lansana Lamin | 39 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Alusine Turay | 17 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| Aruna Kainessie | 24 | Right-handed | | |
| Yegbeh Jalloh | 24 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Ibrahim Sesay | 17 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| All-rounders |||||
| George Edward Ngegba | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Captain |
| Chernoh Bah | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Abass Gbla | 27 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Miniru Kpaka | 22 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Ibrahim Kamara | 32 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| John Lassayo | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Wicket-keeper |||||
| John Bangura | 19 | Right-handed | | |
| Spin Bowler |||||
| Raymond Coker | 17 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| Pace Bowlers |||||
| George Sesay | 18 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Samuel Conteh | 21 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |

## Records

International Match Summary — Sierra Leone
Last updated 28 November 2024
Playing Record :
| Format | M | W | L | T | NR | Inaugural Match |
| Twenty20 Internationals | 38 | 15 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 19 October 2021 |

### Twenty20 International

* Highest team total: 189/2 v. Ivory Coast on 23 November 2024 at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos
* Highest individual score: 78*, Alusine Turay v. Ghana on 17 December 2023 at Willowmoore Park, Benoni
* Best individual bowling figures: 5/16, Abass Gbla v. Nigeria on 26 October 2021 at University of Lagos Cricket Oval, Lagos
T20I record versus other nations
Records complete to T20I #2995. Last updated 28 November 2024.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
| vs Associate Members ||||||||
| Botswana | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 November 2021 | 15 December 2023 |
| Cameroon | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 November 2021 | 7 November 2021 |
| Eswatini | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 December 2022 | 5 December 2022 |
| Gambia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 December 2022 | 6 December 2022 |
| Ghana | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 December 2022 | 5 December 2022 |
| Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 November 2024 | 23 November 2024 |
| Kenya | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 December 2023 | |
| Mali | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 December 2023 | 9 December 2023 |
| Mozambique | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 November 2021 | 5 November 2021 |
| Nigeria | 11 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 19 October 2021 | 19 October 2021 |
| Rwanda | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 October 2023 | 10 October 2023 |
| Saint Helena | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 November 2024 | 26 November 2024 |
| Tanzania | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 November 2021 | |